Maëlys McArdle

Category: Travel

My travels around the world.

  • Montreal

    Montreal

    Took a day trip to Montreal last weekend. Despite going to this city every year or so for events or people, it had been a generation since I had acted the tourist.

    It helped that I got to hang out with a pal and go for a 20km walk. I also finally tried both classic Montreal bagel spots: St-Viateur and Fairmont.

    One thing that stood out on this trip is how the downtown appears to have started to build big again. The construction of high rises in the city seemed to stagnate after 1970, coinciding with the exile of businesses to Toronto.

    While the arts thrived, it seemed dependent on assets from long-gone wealth. I’m glad things are changing.

  • Yukon Adventure

    Yukon Adventure

    This past week, I flew to Whitehorse, rented a car, and began a five-day Yukon road trip. This was in lieu of the NYC trip I cancelled.

    This was one of my favourite adventures.

    Whitehorse

    I arrived in Whitehorse on Sunday evening, flying in from Ottawa via Vancouver. As I flew over Kitwanga, I was now the furthest north I’d ever been in Canada.

    As I disembarked my vehicle at the hotel, I shouted “hey Fae!” – it was my neighbour and pal from Ottawa walking along the sidewalk. They happened to be in the city at the same time for work, and we had scheduled dinner together. She was leaving the next day.

    After dinner I stayed up late, so that I could see the midnight sun. I’d never been in a place without a night before.

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  • 2024 and Europe Trip

    2024 and Europe Trip

    This year was pretty great.

    • I travelled to Toronto, and saw Joe Hisaishi perform. This was a life goal of mine.
    • I saw a total eclipse.
    • I saw the northern lights, twice!
    • I went to Rouyn-Noranda, and attended its movie festival.
    • I finished Tristan and Océanne Cross the Atlantic.
    • I had a fun mini-vacation with Joy where we went off-roading, playing SNES, and bouldering.
    • I finished classic games from my childhood, including GoldenEye, Donkey Kong Country, and Command & Conquer.
    • I rounded out my typewriter, oil lantern, and watch collection with a few happy additions.
    • I quit my job and found a new one.
    • I capped off the year traveling to Germany, Czechia, and Austria.
      • I visited my friend who is working in Germany.
      • I visited the site of the book burnings for the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft.
      • I spent NYE in Prague; there were so many fireworks it was as if it was raining all evening.
      • I got to use my German!
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  • Joe Hisaishi & Toronto

    Joe Hisaishi & Toronto

    I went to Toronto this weekend to see Joe Hisaishi, legendary composer. He was at Roy Thomson Hall to play an original symphony of his, some Ravel, and two classic pieces from Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.

    I couldn’t have asked for better seats; I was as close to him as the musicians of the Toronto Symphonic Orchestra, and could see his face. I was pleased to see how in good shape he was, and in good spirits. He smiled to the performers and motioned praise to them throughout the evening.

    Toronto itself was a treat. In addition to watching Joe Hisaishi live, I was able to knock off some other bucket list items:

    • Stay at the Royal York
    • Visit Glad Day, the last of the historical gay bookstores in Canada on my list (I had already been by Little Sisters in Vancouver, and Venus Envy in Halifax)
    • Check out Church Street, the home of Toronto’s gay village

    I hadn’t had a chance to play tourist like this in Toronto since my first solo visit eighteen years ago (More Interviews! (Aka. Back From Toronto). It felt like it could be a place I could make home, were it not for rent being $1,000 more a month than in Ottawa.

  • Northern Lights

    Northern Lights

    Last night, the biggest solar storm in decades hit the planet, resulting in the aurora borealis being visible in Ottawa. I went out to the North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve to get away from the light pollution.

    These are some of the photos I took: