From my memory, verbatim conversation with the Canadian border official when crossing into Canada yesterday:
Off: Where you going?
Me: Friends House
off: Where's that.
Me: White Rock.
Off: for how long (I had entered 10 days on the immigration declaration form)
Me: maybe 1-2 days with them. Then maybe 1-2 days in downtown Vancouver.
Off: How come you not sure?
Me: I'm on an open ended trip all the way from South Carolina and plans flexible. I've entered 10 days in Canada in case I decide to take the train from Vancouver to Toronto.
Off: Why Toronto? Do you know where it is?
Me: Yes it's a four day trip. But I'm traveling all the way from South Carolina for days on train.
Off: Why the train. Are you afraid to fly?
Me: No but I like trains better. And I hear the route to Toronto is fabulous.
Off: There's not much to see once you get out of the Rockies on that route.
Off: Do you work?
Me: I lost my job last year and been living on savings and a pension.
Off: What was your job?
Me: software engineer.
Off: (Giving me passport) Go.
Me: Thank you very much.
Off: You are welcome.
(I was maybe secretly hoping denying entry... I've spent a lot of time in Vancouver between 1999-2003 and so not much exciting. Plus I generally get uneasy in big cities but that's because decades old away from even medium sized cities)
