Toronto Day 6

This morning started with the usual breakfast – and a long chat with Dan, an American guy out of Massachusetts. I had made his acquaintance in passing last night whilst sitting out on the patio.

I then set off on a mission to find a phone card in order to play at ET (‘phone home) and, on recommendation from the helpful front desk procured on from the convenience store just down the road. This seemed amazing value as I got 1075 minutes call time for $10. Having strolled off (notice I do a lot of strolling – this is because I am in no hurry and can stroll all day long) to the Eaton Centre in search of a telephone. There are telephones all over the place in Toronto but quite a few of them seem to be in noisy places – like alongside the road. Another reason was I wanted a quiet spot to work out how to use it without embarrassing myself – there’s honesty for you!

Mission accomplished – phone call made – I then set off back to the hostel to get my blog updated. Whilst sitting in my room typing our newest resident Massa, a 34 year old Japanese guy from just outside Osaka, (I think I’ve told you that before) was interested in getting Internet access; is it possible from our dorm: yes. XP in Japanese is reasonably easy to follow – use the icons! After a long chat with him I then headed off to the reception area in time for the SteamWhistle Brewery tour. This turned out to be most interesting.

The walk down to the brewery was fine as I was accompanied by the lovely Aida. On arrival at the brewery, housed in the old railway turntable buildings, one gets a free sample glass of Steamwhistle beer – “Canada’s Premium Pilsner”. This is very nice, and the beer is too. Whilst mingling & drinking I got to meet Ozzy & Joan. These are a couple in their seventies from Tasmania who have just been to the UK for part of their holiday to stay at their daughter’s place – which is in Hornchurch! They had also visited Southend-On-Sea a few times whilst they were there! (Someone really should have read the washing label last time they washed the world! I suppose one can count global warming as the hot wash which shrinks all – and ruins it!) Along with this couple I also met Joseph – a guy from Utrecht. Whilst this was happening – one gets a refill, or two!
One also gets a refill to begin the tour with. After the tour one returns to the main reception bar for; yes, you guessed it – more free samples. I am sure you can see where this is going. I ended up standing about the bar chatting to Joseph, who had given up his job to go travelling and see some of the world as he wanted to broaden his mind. He was most impressed with what I was doing [free samples made me feel quite proud of myself – don’t worry it will pass] and thought it wonderful that I was fulfilling a dream. Being twenty years younger than me he can easily catch up! Having finished a few more beers we headed off to the hostel – I do wish I had eaten more before starting this tour as I was feeling quite pissed! I could still walk though, but the sun seemed a little brighter than when I arrived.
Having got back to the hostel – I hadn’t lost all sense of direction – I thought I might just have a lie down and recover.

This idea was curtailed by Masa, who came outside to have a smoke.

[Brief interlude: Whilst smoking is a nasty, disgusting, disgraceful, harmful, damaging, killing and downright evil pastime – it is not anti-social - at least not anymore. With the introduction of non-smoking regulations in most of the world (something I am not against) it has created these wonderfully social leper colonies worldwide. There is nothing like a common bond to bring people together, regardless of race, creed or colour, and smoking is one of them! Whilst standing about attempting to destroy the Earth with added carbon and boosting the coffers of governments with their tobacco taxes (who will probably miss-spend it on far more damaging & dangerous things like weapons & illegal wars) – people talk! So, whilst we might all be evil drug-taking (nicotine is a drug; like caffeine and alcohol) social pariahs hell bent on killing all non-smokers and their children, we are sociable to each other and will exchange fire or cancer-sticks amongst each other quite freely on request! All non-smoking evangelists look upon it as a “self-cleansing” exercise and leave us in peace “out in the parking lot” – if you come outside and the wind changes direction to waft smoke over you; please don’t pretend you have just lost a lung or will cough one up – BUGGER OFF BACK INSIDE!]

Anyway, after a long conversation and several cigarettes, the question of states of hunger and the pursuit of food came up. Being in need of soaking up several samples of Steamwhistle, and being hungry to boot, we decided to go off in search of fine repast.
This turned out to be an Indian restaurant on Queens Street.
I will not bore anyone with the details of the meal, etc. but we returned to the hostel shortly after midnight and had a blissful night’s sleep. Needless to say I was quite sober by then and Masa was most impressed that I knew exactly where we were and how to get back to the hostel.
End of day six.