1. The economy parking lot at the Indianapolis Airport allows at least a 15-minute grace period to each 24-hour billing cycle. We parked at 4:06pm on Friday and checked out at 4:19pm on Sunday. We were only charged for two days!
2. O.P.P. – while I can’t explain it, in Ontario it means “Ontario Provincial Police”
3. The King’s Highway 401 has a 100 km/h (60mph) limit. However, the grand majority of drivers speed along at 70-80mph. There are lots of signs regarding fines for speeding (i.e. $100 for getting caught driving 20mph over the limit) but rarely did we see a police car.
4. The shortest route from Indianapolis, IN to Kitchener, Ontario follows I-69E to Fort Wayne, NR 24E to Toledo, then I-75N toward Detroit. After crossing the border, the 401 goes directly to the Kitchener exit (278). Total drive time was 7 hours 10 minutes.
5. The Canadian accent is evident. My favorite aspect is the ‘O’ pronunciation. There are few moments, however, of being lost in translation.
6. I found most Canadian conversation to be frank yet sincere. They addressed topics that Americans would sometimes dance around because our “business etiquette” would judge them as inappropriate talk for customers. For example, the clerk at Tim Hortons said to me at 5:15am on Saturday morning, “We have machines that only print one copy of the receipt. The second copy is very much a waste of paper and time. Most customers just throw it away….Have a good morning.” I laugh because he wasn’t trying to sugar-coat his language. He spoke his mind, delivered my coffee and treats efficiently, and never seemed upset.
7. Speaking of Tim Hortons – it is EVERYWHERE. Certainly a national icon. They are open 24 hours. Their coffee used processed creamer. The coffee is priced in between McDonald’s and Starbucks.
8. The water is potable yet tastes different. Lack of fluoride perhaps? Bottled water was found with ease.
9. The exchange rate during the weekend of September 12-13, 2015 was definitely in our favor. 1 USD = 1.33 Canadian Dollars.
10. The culture is a blend of American, English, and French. I think I would like to live there for a stint someday.