Apologies for the quality & layout of the last couple of posts. I had to break them up because it wanted to shove all the pictures in one line at the top of the text and not put them where I wanted them. It is probably possible to do this if I could be bothered to find out how – but I’m not as I have better things to do. Apologies for the quality of the photo of Spank swinging on the handrail – I told him he should be in the shade and not out in the sun without a hat! If nothing else it proves how sunny it was. The defence rests. I have included a better one as Spank complained it didn’t show him at his best – vain bugger!
I didn’t go to the CN Tower (CNT from now on) yesterday, well, I did but; it was a public holiday here and the queue as I looked down from the Rogers Centre, or Skydome, was huge – so I decided to postpone my visit. I have included a photo looking straight up at the thing – it makes one feel dizzy! The glass strip in the middle is where the lifts (sorry elevators) run – quite fast as a matter of fact! I will let you know what it is like from the inside when I go up it.
More apologies now; the Canadians do know how to spell centre correctly – as in Eaton Centre and Air Canada Centre (where Rush will be playing and I will be missing them. Yes, I am bitter and disappointed!) I got some photos of these just to rub salt into the gaping wounds of disappointment. [I could walk there & back from the hostel in about 20 minutes – 10 each way!]
Putting aside regret and a wallow in disappointment, I move on.
I was late setting off from the hostel as I went up to the patio to finish off my blog post – which ended up being delayed until today. Whilst I was there I got chatting to Pascal – a cool guy from Zurich – who had spent several months travelling around South America. He loved it and thoroughly recommended travelling by bus. Apparently one can spend two days travelling miles on buses and see everything around. We were then joined by Paulo, a guy born in Rio, resident of Portugal, and working over here in Toronto. He was trying to convince me to go to Copacabana, but definitely visit Brazil – especially Rio. After a few hours chatting Pascal’s laundry was done and so we all split up to do our own things.
I set off for the CNT via the harbour front. Down Jarvis Street to Queens Quay and then keep walking until your feet ache. Along the way I did have a walk through the Music Garden. This is a beautiful garden divided into six sections to represent the movements of JS Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. I managed to get round most of it but it was full of people (remember it’s a holiday) so I will return when it is quieter.
I wandered back to the hostel, grabbed a pizza on the way, and was so knackered when I got there I crawled into bed by 9:30 – and slept soundly!
This morning – the 4th – got up & had breakfast (as usual) and was a little disappointed to see it was rather overcast. Not to worry there is still plenty to do, so I thought I would revisit the Music Garden.
Over breakfast had a chat with Richard & Nicky – the couple from Nottingham familiar with Bas-Vegas – and we exchanged notes on places we had seen & visited.
After getting myself organised I then headed off to the Harbour front. It was rather breezy down there but out of the wind it was still quite warm – 17C.
I got to the Music Garden, which was now blissfully deserted and I virtually had the place to myself. I have included a picture of the main plaque to give one an idea of what it is about but haven’t included loads of pictures of it because it is a place that has to be seen for real. I strongly urge anyone visiting Toronto to make the effort, take the time, and visit the Music Garden. I strolled around it and sat is several spots – Rush on MP3 player – just soaking up the ambiance & marvelling at all the birds & butterflies darting around the varied plants & trees in the garden.
After tearing myself away from the Music Garden I then took a wander around the Toronto Wetlands Preserve. This is a section of land close to the waterfront containing loads of reeds & grasses & alive with butterflies & birds. There is a lovely bird house sculpture in it which quite captivated me. All in all I can safely say Toronto is a lovely city.
Having got back in time for the evening barbeque on the patio, I was just sitting around eating when I was joined by Karl – a Vancouver native who was here looking for work as he plans to move to Toronto. After chatting to him for a while – he confirmed I would love Vancouver and recommended I check out Vancouver Island. After a bit more chat I then left him to his job hunting and headed back to my dorm.
Got to meet the latest occupant of the dorm; Masa Yata a guy from just outside Osaka who was travelling around Canada on a Greyhound bus pass. He had travelled round the north part of Canada taking in Montreal & Ottawa. Much talking later, I turned in for the night.
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