Hello Nairaland Fam, hope you are recovering from the 'detty December'.
In the spirit of the new year, follow me on a road trip to Toronto, Ontario in Canada.

Itinerary: Columbus, Ohio - Niagara Falls - Toronto - Brampton - Windsor - Detroit (Michigan) - Columbus, Ohio - Penn State.

I happen to be in Ohio for a few days so I plan to take off from Columbus. The plan is to rent a car for three days (some options include Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, etc). I think I will settle for Alamo. Got a quote for a mid-size SUV for $345 (does not include insurance) as long as I return at the same location and time as I picked up. If I had opted in for 4 days, I would have been charged a weekly amount. But since it is less than four, I was charged a daily rate which when you add taxes and some other charges adds up to $345.
Gas (fuel): The car's tank will be full on pick up and I'm expected to return it full (except I pay about $54 or so...or a little more or less) and I will not have to worry about returning a full tank. Well, I opted in for returning a full tank.
Insurance: To avoid stories that touch the heart, I will use a rental car insurance company I found online to cover my trip. I will use Bonzah and I got a quote for about $37.

When I decided to embark on this trip, the first thing I did was to map out an itinerary (not necessarily all that will take place in Canada but how to get there by road). I used Google and found several US states that border different parts of Canada. For those in Detroit, Michigan and environs, you can get in through Windsor, Ontario. Those in New York and environs can get in through Buffalo, NY (through the Peace bridge). I think one of the states in New England (comprises Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, etc) borders Montreal, Quebec. Since Pennsylvania is somewhat closer to New York and I was in Ohio at the time, I decided to enter Canada through Buffalo, New York. The plan was to get to Niagara Falls in Ontario first before moving to Toronto. Google said the drive from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) where I pick up my rental car to Niagara Falls in Ontario is approximately 5hrs 24m (352 miles). Kindly note that Ontario is a province while Toronto is a city. Then, from Niagara Falls to my Hotel in Toronto (Days Inn by Wyndham) is approximately 1hr 35 m (141km). U.S uses miles whereas Canada uses kilometers.

Immigration and Border: As long as you are not a U.S passport holder, you require a visa to enter Canada. When I applied, the turn around time was pretty decent. Thankfully, they no longer require covid-19 testing and quarantine as they did during the peak of the covid-19 pandemic. So, less worries.
Let's hit the road.

Pictures attached were taken at the CMH airport...the car rental section.

can i call u?

As you can tell, it was a long boring drive. Thanks to my Gospel playlist (with Mercy Chinwo, Nathaniel Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Ada Ehi, Limoblaze, etc) I did not sleep. Had frequent stops to fill my tank and get food. From the airport, branched to Chick - fil - A to get Waffle Fries and Sandwich and strawberry lemonade (sorry, didn't take pictures of those).

Pictures - on - the -go

Decided to do a 'see-snap-and-go' at Broderick Park, Buffalo, NY. I think it is in Niagara Street (named after Niagara Falls). There's a lot of streets in different states across the United States that have the same names.
After a brief sight-seeing and picture-taking, I did the 10-mins drive to Peace Bridge (which is the border between US and Canada at Buffalo, NY). I intend to change some 'change' I have to Canadian dollars and stretch before driving pass to the other side.

Follow you go where?

Why I go follow you?

Where we dey go and na so you take follow people reach there?

Nice one OP... I am glued... Please i'd appreciate if you give pictoral illustrations of your thoughts about Canada. I love to see more of Canada; heard they have this striking similarities with the USA but then we know some things differ about Canada ranging from currency, house structures, streets, environment, development, transport systems, etc

In Ontario

Finally made it pass the border. It was a pretty straightforward process. The officer checked my documents (Visa in my passport) and asked few questions. You are required to declare any cigarettes and alcohol you have on you. After other checks, I heard "welcome to Canada, enjoy your stay". Mind you, I don't know much about traveling with goods across the border. I just had my luggage with me to avoid long waits.

The first thing I noticed on arrival was the KM/H signs. As I mentioned in my previous post (I think I did), US uses miles. But it wasn't a hassle maintaining the speed limit. While the vehicle's speedometer had a hybrid and analog count, there was a digital feature which I just toggled on with a button and it switched from Miles to KM on my dashboard. I noticed I was driving slower than the US. The most speed limit I saw was about 100KM/H which is about 65 miles per hour. In the US, the most I have seen is 70 miles per hour which in KM/H is approximately 113. Anyway, I had to obey the law.

The second thing I noticed is the road network. Looked pretty much like some freeways (highways) in the US. I was surprised to see the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) and the picture of the Queen in some Canadian dollars. Anyway, let's see what Canada has in store.

Still enroute Niagara Falls, Ontario...
All seemed to be going well until I noticed my network switched from 5g to LTE and Emergency (I didn't think about roaming). Problem! Plus my battery was almost flat. Thankfully, I found a McDonalds on the route and decided to branch. Got snacks, eased myself, charged up, and connected to the wifi to reroute to Niagara Falls. Time is around 5:30pm and its pretty dark.

Niagara Falls, meet soon!

buttlover:
can i call u?

I'm not sure how that works

gaby:
Follow you go where?

Why I go follow you?

Where we dey go and na so you take follow people reach there?

Sorry.

Nice

NumeroUno7:
Nice one OP... I am glued... Please i'd appreciate if you give pictoral illustrations of your thoughts about Canada. I love to see more of Canada; heard they have this striking similarities with the USA but then we know some things differ about Canada ranging from currency, house structures, streets, environment, development, transport systems, etc

Thank you! Glad you found this thread interesting. Will do. I'll try my best to do some similarity check between some of the states I've visited in the US and the cities I get to visit in Ontario. Will share as many pictures as I can as well.

So far, I've got hold of the CAD 10, 20 and 50 and the textures are like the 5-50 Naira polymers. Currency-wise, 1 USD equals 1.34 CAD (according to Google). Will get on the streets to see how things look and will try to use public transportation to move around.

aycapri:
Nice

Thank you!

Borgamaame:



Sorry.

Just kidding...

Following you bumper to fender

Wow!
I'm following
Lemme grab a seat

Quite an interesting account so far!

….

Following!

Very well then... I have been longing for a detailed thread on Canada, thank God I already found one

Borgamaame:



Thank you! Glad you found this thread interesting. Will do. I'll try my best to do some similarity check between some of the states I've visited in the US and the cities I get to visit in Ontario. Will share as many pictures as I can as well.

So far, I've got hold of the CAD 10, 20 and 50 and the textures are like the 5-50 Naira polymers. Currency-wise, 1 USD equals 1.34 CAD (according to Google). Will get on the streets to see how things look and will try to use public transportation to move around.

Sweetvie:
Wow!
I'm following
Lemme grab a seat

Your monika sha... Is it what I am thinking? Sweetvie

NumeroUno7:

Your monika sha... Is it what I am thinking? Sweetvie

Hmm
What are you thinking?

Finally made it to Niagara Falls. At first, I was kinda sad that I didn't make it during the day (it starts getting dark from 5:00pm and sometimes earlier). When I saw the Falls and the beautiful lights, I screamed "Omo!" as Nigerians do. I was amazed.
Getting there was smooth. Had to pay about CAD 10 for parking which is approximately $7 USD. I think it could have been a little more expensive if I spent more than 1hour. A lot of parking lots in Canada and the US charge by the hour while some charge a flat or daily or overnight rate to suit different needs.

Back to Niagara Falls. I found that there's a lot of things to do there depending on the season. Several tours, restaurants, hotels, and fun activities. Since I got there around Christmas/New Year, you should expect that there will be fairy lights. Kinda reminded me of a Christmas Light Show I attended sometime. They get really creative with Fairy lights decorations and all.
Too much talk, find pictures below

More pictures

From the parking lot to the Falls itself is a bit of a walking distance. Well, I found my way through the signs.
Look around with me

Ok

Amazing!
I wish you took pics of the falls so we too go shout "omo" for here!
Keep em coming!

Borgamaame:
Finally made it to Niagara Falls. At first, I was kinda sad that I didn't make it during the day (it starts getting dark from 5:00pm and sometimes earlier). When I saw the Falls and the beautiful lights, I screamed "Omo!" as Nigerians do. I was amazed.
Getting there was smooth. Had to pay about CAD 10 for parking which is approximately $7 USD. I think it could have been a little more expensive if I spent more than 1hour. A lot of parking lots in Canada and the US charge by the hour while some charge a flat or daily or overnight rate to suit different needs.

Back to Niagara Falls. I found that there's a lot of things to do there depending on the season. Several tours, restaurants, hotels, and fun activities. Since I got there around Christmas/New Year, you should expect that there will be fairy lights. Kinda reminded me of a Christmas Light Show I attended sometime. They get really creative with Fairy lights decorations and all.
Too much talk, find pictures below

More pictures

Oh God of Elijah, hear my voice!! I must visit this place in Jesus name!

Very beautiful.. I wonder how this place would be in the summer

Good!

Borgamaame:
More pictures

which phone are you using?

Hello Fam, sorry for the delay in transmission
Got caught up in a lot.

Well, after the Falls I headed to my hotel. The drive was about 1h 30m or so. Twas a pretty interesting drive.
On my way, I spotted an Indian Restaurant (Indian foods are really good! and I love their Mango lassi drink). Couldn't resist the temptation to branch plus my stomach was rumbling (I had eaten only waffle fries and spicy chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A since morning).
Anyways, I ordered for rice some goat stew. I love curry stew, polak stew with lamb as the protein. Really nice meals I have tried.
7 Spice Bar and Masala Grill (At fairview Street) is the name of the Indian Restaurant and boy, the food was so filing that I had to takeout some. It was too much for one sitting
Plus their service was great! I recommend.

Pictures attached...