PHOTOS OF TORONTO TRIP 2011

My favourite modern building in Toronto - very Art Deco'ish

CN Tower

This is the top of the CN Tower.  People were strapped to the railings and were moving around -  eeeuuuggghhhhhh - I don't think I will be doing that!

General Skyline from Harbour

Harbour

Traffic Lights

Another Art Deco builing - I think this one was being demolished

Reflections on 'interview' building

View from Music Garden (looking through Prairie Planting - Huffle's artistic shot)

Room with a view (Our Room - our view)

Tim Horton Breakfast

City Hall (and Gargoyles)

Inside the Eaton Centre (not real geese!)

St Lawrence Market

Ernesto Cervini (Jazz Festival) Unionville

China Town

Skyline

Outside a building

I Spy with ...............

We got up early Monday morning to catch our flight home, Hurrah, it was on time, and it promised to be quicker than flying there.

Two films, one breakfast, one snack, two packs of pretzels and countless cups of water and coffee and we arrived in the UK without lumps or bumps this time. A fairly pleasant flight despite feeling quite tired. Then a long drive home.

Huffle was expecting to hear about the job by the end of Monday but it is now midday Tuesday there and 5pm here and we have still heard nothing.

We have serious jet lag. We forced ourselves out of bed early this morning and have stumbled through the day somehow.

I was playing I Spy with the kids earlier and I kept forgetting what my word was! How strange!

Photos to follow shortly.

China, Newcastle and Italy

SUNDAY

This morning, after another substantial breakfast in the Hotel, we walked to China Town. This was Huffle's idea. He wanted to see what it was like. Ummmmm, I wasn't overly impressed. Maybe it was the time of day, maybe it was the women fighting in one of the streets or maybe it was just a bit too China'ry. He promised me a Market at the end in Kensington, but again this failed to impress me, purely because it wasn't a Market at all, just a few fruit shops with some wandering homeless people.

Anyway, we came back through the fashion district and found a really good coffee shop which boasted the best coffee in Toronto - it was.

We walked and walked and walked and said we weren't going to walk anymore and then we walked to The Canon theatre to see Billy Elliot the musical. It was fabulous. Even Huffle enjoyed it. The young boy who played Billy was fantastic and his Newcastle accent was very good and rarely slipped. The rest of the cast slipped in and out of Newcastle, Scottish, Irish, Canadian and lots more but I guess that must be a hard accent especially for Canadians. The boy who played Michael was also very good.

Then, because we hadn't walked enough, we walked for some more miles to find something to eat and finally settled on Joe Baldinis which was an Italian bar and restaurant. Very nice.

We stopped off at a supermarket to see what they don't sell. We can't find much good tea, baked beans, weetabix or nutella. It was only a small one though so there is still some hope.

We have come back to the hotel now and packed our bags, booked a very early taxi to the airport and tried a bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate. (we were told by some true Canadians that the Cadbury's chocolate here is definitely not the same as home) - we think it's okay. Not exactly the same but not bad either.


This is the end of our trip and I have to say it has been "AWSOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEE"

Bites, Bass and Bus

SATURDAY

We went to Tim Horton's for breakfast. I tried the coffee (not brilliant in my opinion), and had an egg breakfast on biscuit, which was an egg with a slice of plastic cheese in a strange bready type thing. It filled a hole but it reminded me of MacDonalds, which if anyone knows me is NOT my favourite place. However we also tried the Blueberry Muffins which were very good.

We went into a Mall to check out the shops - there were plenty. We also went to St Lawrence Market which was great. Lots of people, lots of fresh fruit, cakes, pastries, breads, crafts, etc.

This afternoon we went to buy a train ticket to Unionville but ended up going on the bus. The bus station was in the middle of nowhere and we had to walk a fair distance to get to the Jazz Festival. It is clear that no one walks here (except us muppets).

Unionville is a quaint Heritage village with weatherboard houses - one website describes it as "Country goodness plus a dash of modern pizzazz". Well we certainly liked it. The Jazz helped. We sat and watched the Ernesto Cervini Quartet with guest saxophonist 'Joel' who got very 'lost' in the music. Ernesto was a drummer who was described as 'innovative', we thought he was barking mad - but very talented.

Huffle has tried a Bison burger with sweet potato fries - verdict "YEAH very tasty".

We are now sitting in our hotel room watching the boats on the lake while being entertained with fireworks (surely put on for our own amusement!).


P.s. It has been brought to my attention that the comments page doesn't work. I have since amended this and look forward to reading any comments you may have.

Tickets and Tips

SATURDAY

Huffle's meeting went very well. We apparently made a good impression at the BBQ as one of the execs presented him with 2 tickets to see the Billy Elliot musical (because I had mentioned before that I was hoping to see it while in Toronto). Ooooh can't wait. The exec in question is a lovely lovely man with an equally lovely wife. So far all the people we have met here have been so friendly.

Yesterday afternoon Huffle and I went for a walk to the music garden which was nice. Some really gorgeous plants. They love their Rudbeckia here.

We had drinks and dinner with a friend of Huffle's who moved here 2 years ago from the UK. He gave us lots of sound advice. The service here is amazing. We were busy talking, catching up etc and the waiter kept checking if were ready to order but we weren't really looking at the menu. He was so patient and helpful and friendly. They earn their tips here properly.

We slept much better last night.

Off to try a Tim Horton's (famous Canadian coffee house) this morning for coffee and breakfast. Then we are off on the train to a Jazz festival this afternoon out in Unionville.

Bumpy, lumpy

THURSDAY

The seven and a half hour flight was delayed and once we were on it, it was quite bumpy with lots of pockets of lumpy air. However I got to watch two films, a bit of Canadian comedy, some arty stuff and crocheted three rounds of my granny blanket. We also got dinner, a snack and a hot snack with copious amounts of coffee, tea, water, wine etc etc.

The Hotel is fabulous with views of Lake Ontario but we have had to change rooms because it smelt terribly of stale smoke. Our new is room is still on the lakeside. Photos will have to follow when I get back as I don't have capability here.

FRIDAY

Last night we went to the BBQ. It was in a beautiful house and garden with wonderful hosts and guests (I don't mean me and Huffle). The food was divine (fresh salmon cooked on wet oak boards on the BBQ), corn, asparagus, pasta salad, with apple pie and ice cream for dessert. Lots of red wine was consumed and Huffle was a little worse for wear. He, he.

After a very ample breakfast of toast, pastries and fruit, He has gone off this morning for his interview/meeting and then off for a lunch. I have been left to my own devices. I walked along the harbour lake front for an hour and then walked back along the road.

I don't know what the temperature is but it is very warm. 12midday. Mad dogs and English men!! I am currently in the Hotel room making the most of the air con. Off to find somewhere nice to eat lunch and then Huffle I will meet up again for the Afternoon.

Upgrade

Just arrived at Heathrow Hotel and we got an upgrade. Wahooo. We're in business class. Top floor. Lovely jubbly.

Having a very english cup of tea.