Time for the annual MLA trip! Sharon has an annual professional conference that she goes to, and every year it's held in a different city. I always take vacation days to tag along and do sightseeing.
Rundown of what I/we did:
Friday May 13th:
Arrived at airport to discover that our cell phones didn't work. I realize that we are outside the US, but this is still North America and Canada is on the same NA freqency band plan as the US. And I have a brand new phone! Seriously pissed about this, and it put a huge logistical dent in the rest of the trip. And a dent in my wallet as I compensated with various technology purchases.
Met up with my Dad and his fiancee in Don Mills for dinner.
Saturday May 14th:
The weather sucked so it was a good day to NOT be doing a lot of sightseeing. Went to brunch with more family and that took up the day through 3pm. Sharon got sick and crashed at the hotel. I went out to get my bearings in this town and did a little necessary shopping: bought a burner phone for Sharon (my work phone was functioning) from a tiny storefront, and bought a Toronto city guide from a chain bookstore in the huge Eaton Center mall. I really needed that book, since I hadn't actually done a single bit of trip pre-planning.
Sunday May 15th:
Weather continuing to suck (cold and rainy) but it's going to get better on Monday. Sharon was at her conference in the morning, and I took it easy at the hotel. In the afternoon I visited my Dad to deal with his accumulated computer problems. Actually saw a snow flurry on the way there. I am now a pro at the Toronto transit system, which is quite good; thank God for NextBus. Had dinner with the folks and while Sharon attended more conference functions.
Monday May 16th
OK, here we go, actual sightseeing. Today would be my one day of bumming around by myself. alas it was a Monday so most museums were closed, but the Royal Ontario Museum was open so I took advantage of that (tattoo exhibit, bat cave, Judiasm exhibit and much more, and kooky architecture of course). Then walked through U of Toronto campus (past some sort of track meet) to a bikeshare stop and then biked all the way back downtown. Which was easy because Toronto slopes gently downhill towards Lake Ontario to the south. Biked all the way out to the water, dropped off the bike (penalties kick in after 30 minutes) and walked along the waterfront until I found some food. Well, it was a pastry shop, but they had poutine which was good enough for my needs. Picked up a bike again and biked out to the edge of the tiny (and somewhat controversial) downtown airport, then back to the hotel. Actually, I just went straight into the conference center to see Sharon doing her poster presentation -- sneaking in with the counterfeit badge that Sharon made for me! From there, we hurried over to the Bata Shoe Museum, which was really good. Then we caught a streetcar down to Chinatown, and after a couple stops in cramped asian goods stores, we found a restaurant that took credit cards (we were attempting to make this a cashless trip) and settled down with some hot pot. After dinner, we took the streetcar down to the CN Tower, by way of the waterfront, intending to go up the tower, but a storm rolled in so we skipped that. Instead, we walked a few blocks over to the historic and beautiful (and colossal) Royal York Hotel where we enjoyed a cocktail in the Library Bar (after some people watching in the ornate lobby). Back to the hotel and some serious planning for Tuesday, which would be jam packed.
Tuesday May 17th
Second day of good weather and serious sightseeing. Took a streetcar out to the Distillery District, walked around and did some shopping. From there we walked along the Esplanade to the St. Lawrence Market, chock full of fresh meat and produce vendors on the main floor and all sorts of crazy dry goods on the lower floor. Had a peameal bacon sandwich, because that's what you are supposed to do, and it was lunchtime. Walked towards midtown, stopping briefly in the Hudson's Bay department store where I had a brief fantasy of buying a light coat (I need one) but quickly changed my mind. Walked through the huge and surprisingly pleasant Eaton Center mall, then through Nathan Philips Square past both the old city hall (1899) and the new city hall (1965) and ended up at the Art Gallery Of Ontario. Clock ticking, we spent an hour there and then hustled back to the hotel for about 45 minutes of rest before heading back out to dinner date with family.
Wednesday May 18th
CN Tower, finally. They have one of those glass floors, which I am genetically incapable of standing on. Airport. Home.
Regrets / to-do next time:
Toronto Islands
Mirvish Village
Casa Lomo
Ontario Science Center
Tot The Cat Cafe
sailing on Lake Ontario with family, visiting Lake
Niagara Falls
baseball game or hockey game
High Park
botanical garden
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