Car review: 2019 Toyota C-HR XLE

We reserved a compact sedan for our one week journey through the mountains. Originally the trip was planned for 4 people, with 2 drivers and 2 suitcases. By the time of the actual trip, however, our group shrunk to two drivers and one passenger, though still with two suitcases. When we got our car, I was glad that we had just three people. 

Our car for a week was the Toyota C-HR XLE. Actually, it was a lucky coincidence, because my partner was considering it for purchase. I was trying to say gently that it is not the car for her. During our trip she came to the same conclusion without my help.

Let's start!

The Grand V-mount Hotel. Part III, the final.

We found a spot in the corner of the parking lot, got our suitcases, and went back to the room. Our food supply was left in the car - we didn't mind attracting bears to our car, but absolutely declined the idea of collecting smaller forms of life in our food. Inside, we were debating if our suitcases may stay on the floor or if we should lift them on the table. I finally risked to check the bed and removed the covers.

The Grand V-mount Hotel. Part II

We took the key and went upstairs. The smell was pretty heavy, even in the stairwell. We got to our room, which was right next to the stairs and the only one on that side of the building.

Even though the reservation was stating that it was a non-smoking room, smokers were visiting the place before more than once. A 20 year old TV was standing on the shelf under the ceiling in the corner of the room. The carpet looked pretty old, so we remained in street shoes. Beds looked smaller than the requested queen size, and they were as aged as a bottle of good whiskey. 

I decided to inspect the bathroom, to which Natty reacted with the question: "Is it safe, or would it be better to use a washroom in the restaurant?"

The place was very suspicious. We had to decide what is safer - to leave the luggage in the car and get it stolen by morning or to bring it upstairs and get a company of bedbugs or other parasites with our clothes.

The Grand V-mount Hotel. Part I

This part of our journey created a good set of memes. I will try to describe the environment in as much details as possible so you could feel the absurd of the situation.

Probably, linking to Tarantino's "Four Rooms" would be the best reference to this story. As I was  saying earlier, our goal was to see as much as possible and spend as little as possible. Therefore we were saving on our stays in hotel by driving from the parks of Alberta to small towns in British Columbia, where prices where much friendlier than in the resorts area.

AB-BC Canada gateway. Or 3 seasons in one week.

We got back from our road trip in Canadian Rockies mountains. Finally, I had a proper test drive of the car on various terrain - tarmac, gravel, wet gravel, mountain road, heavy rain in the mountain and heavy snow in the mountains and on the highway.
2250 km on Toyota C-HR. This car would never get into my short list for car shopping, but overall it is a good compact SUV. God bless the creator of the adaptive cruise control!
Stay tuned!

Ireland: Baby Cliffs near Ballyreen

The Cliffs of Moher were a unique experience mixed with disappointment: thick fog created that surreal feeling of being away from everything, but knowing that only 200 meters away there is an ocean and real puffins left us feeling betrayed by nature, which decided to hide a real gem from us. However, our next stop compensated for unfortunate experience at the Cliffs - we got to the Baby Cliffs, which have a bit of a different structure and are much lower. Over there we finally saw the Atlantic ocean on the east side.

Ireland: Cliffs of Moher

If someone would ask me to describe our trip in one word, I'd definitely choose the word "hectic".
To be honest, four weeks ago no one was planning to travel; more than that, Ireland wouldn't be my #1 choice as a travel destination. Nevertheless, four weeks ago I was paying my monthly bills, sitting in PJ's with a cup of coffee in front of a laptop. Once I finished transferring money to my internet provider, credit cards, and insurance, I realized that the situation didn't look too pessimistic. So to treat myself with something positive, I opened a website with air tickets. What a surprise! Tickets to Dublin were cheap and pretty attractive. So here it started. The next two weeks were extremely busy with work and home, but time after time I was checking the options as to what to do and where to stay in Ireland.

Other side of the planet: cars in UK

After visiting UK I realized that Smart is not a small car. It is a European car. Actually, it could be bigger (at least taller) than some fellows that we met on streets of London
Should I mention that I almost twisted my neck looking around? I like compact cars and North American fashion for a bulky transport with 3+ L engines makes me sad. Therefore walking on the streets of London was like visiting a gallery with real art.