Ava Estilaei and her brother stop at Niagara Falls on the way up to Canada.
Entirely unbeknownst to one another, friends Ava Estilaei and Ava Luo both found themselves in Canada this past July.
For Ava Estilaei, this was a pretty regular trip, as she has family and friends in Canada. “I visit about 3 times per year on average,” declared Estilaei. “It feels like my home away from home.”
She often visits with her father and brother during school breaks, and has even gotten a dual citizenship. This trip was more spontaneous than most though. After a slow week in South Carolina this summer, where her dad lives, they decided to go for a road trip to Canada. After going through more than a few states, driving for countless hours, they got to appreciate the joys of Canadian coffee.
“I love going to Tim Horton’s, it’s always my first stop when we arrive in Canada.” said Ava E. “I got a coffee slushie last time, it was very fun and definitely something I don’t see often in America!”
Besides the coffee, Ava Estileai treasures the time she spends with her friends and family in Canada. Often when she goes to Vancouver, the city where the majority of her relatives live, she enjoys walking around the university campus with them–University of Vancouver is in fact renowned for its natural setting and scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. And because her relatives in Vancouver are Iranian, Ava enjoys trying Persian delicacies at their favorite local shops. Bread is one such highlight for her.
“Persian bread is much better than American bread; it contains simpler ingredients and is often freshly made.” Ava explains, “I also love their unique textures and shapes. My favorite type is called Taftoon, it is a soft and fluffy, wheat flatbread.”
While Ava Estilaei was taking in the little joys of Canada on a more routine trip, it was Ava Luo’s first time. She had left the United States numerous times before, but had never been to the Great White North. She went up with her family to sight-see in mid-July.
“I went with my parents and siblings.” Ava Luo states. “It was really fun to travel with them over summer break. They always find the best places to stop on our trips.”
They stayed for about a week and explored Western Canada, travelling through Richmond, Victoria, and Vancouver. One highlight for her was trying new foods like poutine, fried dough, and butter tarts. Another special memory for her was the ferry ride they took the first weekend they were there.
“We got to take a ferry to Victoria one day,” explained Luo. “We drove our car onto the ferry and then walked up to the upper deck where there was a cafe and a little shop. The cafe had a beautiful view of the shimmering water and the skyline, and I tried poutine there.”
Luo was surprised by the taste of Poutine–a classic Canadian dish consisting of hot french fries and fresh cheese curds covered in hot gravy. She appreciated the savory french fry combo and had this dish a couple more times during their visit. After the ferry ride filled with good food and even better views, they drove their car off the ferry and explored the city. Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, and is a very popular travel destination.
“In Victoria we visited the Fairmont Empress. It’s a very elegant hotel, I even heard that members of the British Royal Family have stayed there in the past,” Describes Ava Luo. “Nearby we also walked through the inner harbor, a cute historic downtown area with views of the waterfront.”
After Victoria they visited Richmond which is also in British Columbia. Here they walked around the plentiful parks the city contains. After getting home from Canada, Ava Luo is considering travelling again next summer: to Japan! Only time will tell if Ava Estilaei joins her this time too.