The Great Canadian Train Ride

Sarah arrived at Pacific Central Station in Vancouver. It was raining outside, as it often does in this city. She pulled her large blue suitcase inside the building. There was a long line at the ticket counter. Sarah waited patiently behind a man in a red jacket. In Canada, it is polite to wait your turn and never cut in line. Finally, she showed her ticket to the attendant. "You are on Platform 4," he said with a smile. Sarah walked to the train and found her seat near the window. She was ready for her adventure.

The train left the city and started to climb high up. Soon, Sarah saw the famous Rocky Mountains. The mountains were very tall and had white snow on top, even in the summer. The train went through dark tunnels and over high bridges. The trees here were green and thick. Sarah took many photos with her camera. The conductor told everyone, "These mountains are a protected park." Sarah felt very small next to the giant stone peaks. The air outside looked crisp and cold. It was the most beautiful nature she had ever seen.

Sarah stood up and walked to the "Dome Car." This was a special car with glass windows on the roof. She could see the blue sky and the tops of the mountains clearly. She sat down next to an older woman. "Ideally, you can see everything from here," the woman said. The train moved smoothly along a fast river. The water was a bright turquoise color because of the glacier minerals. Sarah relaxed in the comfortable chair. It was nice to share this view with other passengers. Everyone was quiet, watching the beautiful world go by.

Suddenly, the train slowed down. "Look to the left!" someone shouted. Sarah pressed her face against the glass. Near the edge of the forest, there was a large black animal. It was a black bear! The bear was eating berries and did not look at the train. Further away, Sarah saw a large animal with big antlers. "That is an elk," the conductor explained. In Canada, wild animals are everywhere. It is important to stay safe and keep a distance. Sarah was happy to see them from the safety of the train.

The next day, the view changed completely. The mountains were gone. Now, the land was flat and yellow. They were in the Prairies. Sarah saw endless fields of wheat and canola flowers. The sky looked enormous here. People call this "Big Sky Country." There were small farmhouses far apart from each other. Sarah saw big red barns and modern tractors. This part of Canada grows food for many people around the world. It was very different from Vancouver, but it had a quiet beauty. The sun set slowly over the flat horizon.

In the morning, Sarah went to the dining car. The waiter asked, "Table for one?" He seated her with a couple she did not know. This is common on the train. "Good morning," Sarah said. The couple was from Ottawa. They were very friendly. Sarah ordered pancakes with bacon. When the food came, there was a small bottle on the table. It was real maple syrup. "You must try this," the man said. "It is liquid gold." Sarah poured the sweet syrup on her pancakes. She said "Thank you" to the waiter. Canadians value politeness.

The train arrived in Winnipeg. This city is in the middle of Canada. The conductor announced a two-hour stop. Sarah got off to stretch her legs. The air was warm and humid. She walked to a park near the station. There was a historic place called "The Forks." Two rivers meet here. Indigenous people have met here for thousands of years. Sarah bought a cold drink and sat on a bench. She felt the ground under her feet. It felt good to walk after sitting for so long. Then, the train whistle blew. It was time to go.

Now the train was in Northern Ontario. This area is called the Canadian Shield. It is made of ancient rock. Sarah looked out the window and saw trees, rocks, and water. There were thousands of lakes. "There are more lakes here than anywhere else," a passenger said. Sarah saw small cottages near the water. These are summer homes for many Canadians. They like to swim, fish, and relax in nature. The train moved slower here because the track was curvy. The forest seemed to go on forever. It was a very wild and peaceful place.

Sarah started talking to a family sitting across the aisle. They had a young son. "We are from Halifax," the father said. "That is on the Atlantic Ocean." He told Sarah about the ocean and the fishing boats. Then he laughed and said, "This train ride is long, eh?" Sarah smiled. She learned that Canadians use the word "eh" at the end of sentences. It is a way to be friendly and ask for agreement. "Yes, it is very long," Sarah replied. She liked meeting people from different provinces. Canada has many different cultures in one country.

Finally, after four days, the train approached Toronto. Sarah saw the tall buildings in the distance. The tallest one was the CN Tower. It looked like a needle in the sky. Sarah packed her blue suitcase. She felt sad to leave the train, but excited to see the city. The train stopped at Union Station. It was very busy and loud. People were walking fast. "Excuse me, sorry," people said as they rushed by. Sarah stepped onto the platform. She had crossed the whole country. It was a journey she would never forget.