Posted by Ronald Huereca
On my recent trip to Syracuse, New York, I decided I wanted to step on foreign soil for the first time in 17 years.
My trip took me up to Watertown, NY, which was about forty miles from Canada.
As I took Interstate 81 north into Canada, I noticed less and less New York plates and more Ontario plates.
As I paid my toll for the 1000 Islands International Bridge, I grew anxious. The border was very close.
I was only two cars deep when I approached the border agent. The car in front of me breezed right through. I thought to myself, “This is going to be easy.”
The border agent greeted me, “Hello. Bonjour.”
I pulled out my blue passport, and his mannerisms completely changed.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I plan on going to.. Ganon.. Ganoun.. I’m not sure how to pronounce the city’s name.”
“Gananoque?” he asked.
“Yes, that’s it.”
He then proceeded to ask me about arrests, alcohol, or if I had anything in my trunk. Since I was driving a rental, the car was fairly empty.
“Have fun!” he said as he waved me into the country.
The first few signs were of the speed limit (conveniently converted from miles into kilometers). I then followed my iPhone directions to Gananoque.
While there, I ate at a restaurant and checked out a local park. See the end of this post for some pics.
Here are some observations I made about my brief stint into Ontario, Canada:
- A lot of people around me spoke French.
- There were a lot of Canada flags everywhere.
- The town of Gananoque had a drugstore that would have put Walgreens to shame.
- A lot of young people walk around unaccompanied.
- Their stores have absolutely no liquor.
- Canadians drive very fast! I wasn’t about to speed on their highways.
Okay, here are some pics (see the rest at my Flickr account):
Canadian Flag From a Restaurant - Gananoque
Confederation Park - Gananoque
