TRAVEL NOTES
CANADA.
THE average visitor to the Dominion of Canada sees no more of it than he sees of his first iceberg, which is about one-tenth' of the whole, for Canada lies betwixt- three oceans, the Arctic, the Pacific, and the Atlantic, its Southern half being bounded by the United States. Canada's population of II,00o,OOO is spread over 3,5oo,000 square miles, an area slightly smaller than the whole of Europe. The natural. wealth of the Dominion is enormous : the forest area, for instance, covers 1,254,000 square miles, more than half of which is considered accessible for commerce, so it is scarcely surprising that Canada produces more news- print paper than any other country. Minerals include gold, nickel, copper, zinc, lead, silver, platinum and cobalt. jkll the devel- oped, and many of the undeveloped parts of the country are accessible by rail, steamship, and motor-car. The mere crossing of the Atlantic is a holiday in itself, and the journey up the St. Lawrence from the Straits of Belle Isle to Quebec and Montreal—some 800 miles—makes an experience not easily forgotten. Quebec —the old Quebec—is unlike any other city. The quaintness of its waterfront reminds one of Cologne, when viewed from the Rhine. Montreal is a fine and interesting city, the best view of it is that obtainable from Mount Royal, which overlooks the upper reaches of the St. Lawrence. Visits should also be paid to Toronto, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls.
Although it is manifestly impossible to see much of the Dominion during a short holiday, it is at least possible to see some- thing of the three main divisions of the Dominion, by which I mean the Maritime Provinces 'of- the Atlantic Coast, the Prairie Provinces, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and the Western provinces, Alberta and Britiih Columbia which latter, of course, include the Rocky Mountains. The first division, centred about Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa, and Toronto, is the most densely populated area where French Canadians still predominate, and is perhaps the most interesting from the point of view of the historian ; the second division is centred about Winnipeg, and represents the vast grain-growing and mixed-farming com- munity of the Middle West ; the third extends from Calgary, Alberta, to the Pacific Coast. Between these extremes lie the primaeval forests and lumber industries of Ontario, the Great Lakes, the ranching areas of Alberta, and the amazing beauty and grandeur of the Rockies. It will be seen that the planning of a short holiday is no easy matter, even to one who knows the Dominion ; but thanks to the enterprise of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the Canadian National Railways, it is now possible to see the most interesting cities and natural wonders of the country in the course of a short holiday. A series of long and short tours have been organised to suit the convenience of all visitors, and in some cases these include sightseeing in the U.S.A. There is a Standard Six City Tour of 21 or 22 days duration, including both crossings of the Atlantic. Visits are made to Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa (capital of the Dominion), Toronto (the Queen City " of Ontario), and Niagara Falls. Then on to New York and return by way of Montreal. Other tours, of from 26 to 3o days, visit all the foregoing and include Chicago and Washington, while two of the tours visit French River, Ontario, the sportsman's country of Georgian Bay. Ships include 'Empress of Britain,' Empress of Australia,' the Duchess ' ships, and the Montrose.' Tourist or cabin class may be reserved. In Canada and U.S.A. accommodation on trains and
local steamers is all first class, and the fares include everything but personal expenditure : these vary from £69 for 21 day tours to £88 ifs. for 28 day holidays.
Those who can take a holiday of seven weeks can make one of the Across Canada Tours at inclusive fares from £168. These tours (about which a special booklet is published) take the visitor from the Atlantic to the Pacific seaboard, crossing the Prairie Provinces, stopping at Winnipeg, Regina, and Calgary. Then on though the Rockies, where visits are paid to such famous beauty-spots as Banff, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, the Yoho Valley, Kicking Horse Pass, Lariat Trail, Kettle Valley, and Columbia Valley. Victoria and Van- couver are also visited, as are the Great Lakes—here a two-day steamer trip is made—and the lovely orchard districts of southern British Columbia. The Rocky Mountains have an average width of sixty miles, with many peaks of 19,o0o feet or more.
Now a word as to climate. Much has
been written of the Arctic prairie winter. This is true, but in summer the tourist need fear no extremes, either in the East, the Prairie Provinces, or the West. He will find the climate very similar to the English summer, particularly that of British Columbia, where orchards such as those of the Okanagan Valley, with its plums and peaches, will speak for them- selves. In short, the traveller who makes a tour across Canada and fails to consider his money well spent is difficult indeed to please.
NEW CRUISES In this year's Orient Line programme there is a wide choice of cruises to the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Islands, and the Northern countries from Rotterdam to the Arctic Circle. One notable cruise is to be made by `Orontes' on May 1st, spending Coronation Day at Malta, ending at Spithead for the Naval Review. In August, `Orion's' sister ship, Orcades,' will make her maiden cruise before sailing for Australia on October 9th. Fares for these cruises range from 20 guineas for 13 days.
One development of the Orient Line programme this year will be widely wel- comed. This is the decision to despatch
()mina ' on September 3rd, and 21st, on
two direct trips to Egypt and Palestine. Not only will this be a great convenience to officials returning to those countries but it enables summer holiday-makers to spend between a fortnight and three weeks in Egypt or Palestine. The return fare is £52 first class, and £24 tourist B. Round voyage tickets are available for £4o first class, and £18 tourist B.
* * * * * Fyffe Line steamers which maintain a weekly service from Avonmouth to Jamaica, with occasional calls at Bermuda, have accommodation for eighty to one hundred first class passengers. Accommodaticn includes rooms with private baths, single rooms, and suites. There are no inside rooms. Doctors and stewardesses are carried on all passenger vessels. There are also weekly sailings of cargo-type steamers from Liverpool and Swansea to Jamaica, with accommodation for twelve passengers. No doctor is carried in cargo- type steamers, and the service of a stewardess cannot be guaranteed. The round voyage to Jamaica takes 28 days in a passenger steamer, and 32 to 35 days in a cargo vessel. The summer months are the best time of the year for a sea voyage on the Atlantic Ocean, as the temperatures at sea, or in the West Indies, are never excessive at that time of the year.
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