Yesterday we just got back home from our ( around 2 week long ) trip back to Canada! This was the first time I had been back home in 3 years, COVID changed a lot of things so it was really strange… I will be trying to break this up into days. But during my trip I wasn’t really focused on taking pictures ( most of these are actually stolen from my partner ). So it might be a little lacking since I just wanted to spend as much time as possible in the moment : )
✈️ Sunday 🍁
The day that we are flying! Our flight to Canada was 7 and a half hours long but it didn’t feel too bad. I watched the newest Jurassic World movie on the flight which took up a big chunk of time. I also did some cross-stitch and almost finished the small one I brought with me entirely until I dropped my needle onto the floor haha. So instead spent the remaining hours of the flight watching Bluey
Something I found pretty funny on the flight was everyone, even flight attendants making comments about Snor. I didn’t have enough room for him in my backpack which meant I had to carry him through the airport, I was a bit nervous for this but people not being judgemental made it not so bad!
😴 Monday 🍁
We were still adjusting to all of the time differences so we didn’t do much today. Just hung around and went out to pick up some groceries and things like that. Just making sure we got a big rest in before
🌊 Tuesday 🍁
Off to Niagra Falls! Eli and I have both never been so we were super excited to go. From my parents place it isn’t too far away either, I think that I might have fallen asleep in the car for a little bit
We were staying in a really nice hotel that had a perfect view of the falls. After having lunch we went to look at the falls up close for a little bit. I was honestly surprised by the lack of protection surrounding them, people could really just climb over the rocks to muck around, or even jump in if they really wanted to. It was very strange!
After we had a look at the falls we went and looked at all the attractions in Clifton Hill. There was a few small toystores around so we went in those, and took a quick peek at the Rainforest Cafe, there was a shirt in there I liked and told myself I’d come back and get later, but later on it was all sold out! Oh well. We also went on this big thing…I don’t actually know what it’s called. But you can see everything from there! It was directly above a dinosaur mini golf that I desperately wish was open, but it was closed until spring. The giant sculptures looked so cool
For dinner we just had burritos in the hotel room. My parents were tired so Eli and I went back out to Clifton Hill to look around. Mainly to go back to Rainforest Cafe for drinks and take a sneaky few pics with Snor because I was too shy to bring him out with us for some earlier
The Rainforest Cafe was super cool, there is actually one over here in the UK all the way over in London but it has bad reviews. Honestly though after being to this one it makes me want to go and see it anyways haha. We experienced a “thunder storm” twice while in the restaurant and it was so cool, I loved it. The food prices were expensive but I’d love to just try it for the novelty even
🦋 Wednesday 🍁
Our last day at the falls. We had originally planned to cross over the border and visit the US too but my parents had forgotten their passports. So we just got everything settled and ready to go anyways. Today we were headed to a butterfly zoo? Sanctuary? Not sure lol. And to take a quick pop into Great Wolf Lodge
My last experience from a butterfly place like that was when I was around 12-13. There was way too many butterflies flapping in my face and on the ground, which lead to me feeling a bit freaked out in general and not liking to be around them so much. This one was much nicer and now I don’t have a strong dislike for butterflies anymore : ) It was a cool place to be in and I actually had quite a few land on me and hang out while we were walking around
The main reason I wanted to go to GWL ( other than the obvious reason of wolves ) is because they sell these exclusive wolf Beanie Boo’s there. These wolves are ones I would love for my collection, but including import fees and things like that they just cost a fortune in the UK. They also have a Build-A-Bear inside with exclusive bears and clothing you can only get there
Unfortunately because we were not actually staying there, and just quickly went in to look at the shop, we weren’t familiar with the layout. We thought that the shop near the entrance was the only one there. This shop had clothes and like…a couple teddies that weren’t even wolves. I was very disappointed so I only got a rainbow tie-dye sweater, which is actually my favourite sweater now. But after researching further ( after we had left ) I discovered that there was another shop further into the hotel where they were selling stuffed animals and where the Build A Bear was. I was pretty upset about this considering that this was most likely my only chance to actually go to Great Wolf Lodge. But nothing much I can do about it, it still bums me out to think about though
🧸 Thursday 🍁
We weren’t up to anything at all today! Just relaxing. Some good friends offered to pay for us to go to all 3 days of FE as opposed to the previously planned just Sunday. So we spent the day getting ready for the weekend ahead!
🐾 Friday, Saturday & Sunday 🍁
Furnal Equinox time! This was also Eli’s first furry convention. We spent the first day looking around the dealers den, and later that night my friend Boom was holding a sketchbook swap panel that was super fun. Afterwards it was the babyfur panel, which I was very excited to attend since my work was sponsoring it. But the room was much too packed and you could barely move. I was a bit disappointed by it but that’s okay. I’m just not a very rustle and bustle person
Starting to feel the burn-out a little bit Saturday so we went to the convention much later. Not a whole lot going on again, went to the “Drawing Pokemon From Memory” panel but that was it. I actually gave up half-way through because it was stressing me out a little bit lol. There really wasn’t a whole lot going on with the con this year, not even a fursuit parade which I found odd ( or none that I heard of ). Definitely a different vibe to the previous years I’ve been to but maybe things just changed after COVID
One thing FE did bring out in me was wanting a fursuit…like wow I really, really want one. I think that me and a friend will be trying to make some this year, which I’m excited for. Hopefully they will be ready in time for when we go to Scotiacon
🌈 Monday 🍁
With the con done and everyone tired we just took it easy, visited a mall & Value Village and just hung around. Eli had a concert that night he went to
🖍️ Tuesday 🍁
It was time for us to go home now : ( I felt very sad leaving my friends behind, after not seeing them so long and not knowing when I will again… I hope that it isn’t another 3 years until I see them again
More hanging around, went for a little walk by the lake and then went to Value Village afterwards. I found a Jellycat unicorn for only $4 which I thought was amazing
🦃 Wednesday 🍁
There is a place nearby to feed birds and see all sorts of things so we went for a walk there. We even saw turkeys!
💸 Thursday 🍁
Today we took a trip to the mall! Which is honestly so different to malls over in the UK ( which aren’t even really a thing ). Not to mention how much cheaper the price of everything is compared to us. I was surprised!
☔️ Friday 🍁
The last day before we flew home…we didn’t do anything except for hang around again. Sad that the trip seemed to go by so fast… it feels weird to be leaving everyone behind. But hopefully next time it won’t be so long until I see everyone again
✈️ Saturday & Sunday 🍁
And just like that it is time for us to go home! This time the flight is 6 and a half hours, so quicker then on the way home. However it is an overnight flight transferring us to the next day which is always especially awful. The flight was very…meh. I could not fall asleep which sucked, neither could Eli. I watched two movies on the flight also; The League Of Super Pets & The Croods 2, I didn’t like either of them but I think it was just because of how tired I was
Got another few comments about Snor this time and the lady sitting across from us even showed her some teddies she had as gifts in her bag. Even though they weren’t out & weren’t for her this also made me feel a bit better about carrying him around : )
Being away for so long and coming back makes me appreciate our home a lot…I love that we have a space where we can be ourselves and decorate the way that we want to. I also spent the past two weeks pretty much not drawing at all which felt great too to take such a big break. I feel refreshed and ready to get back to work. So far the time difference and adjusting to everything is killing me, but hopefully it will get better soon!