Category Archives: Toronto

Amsterdam, Toronto

Toronto 2 Amsterdam – Aug 5/6

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With a 5 hour road trip ahead of us, we left Stittsville with Greg and Leslie about 11 am.  Greg toured us through some great scenery and managed to drive us directly through a storm cell.  Thunder, lightning and a torrential downpour.  Quite incredible.  I was thinking how much BC would have appreciated this rainfall.

We were delivered to Pearson Airport at about 4:45 for our 7:15 flight.  Security took about 50 minutes, so we didn’t have as much time as we thought.  We were booked on a Sunwing flight.  We discovered it was operated by a Dutch Airline called Arke.  The first language on the flight was Dutch.  We were instantly transported to Europe.

Customs and immigration in Amsterdam was a very easy process.  We purchased train tickets from the Airport to Amsterdam Central station for 5.50 euros each and then a tram pass for an hour for 2.90 euros each.  We found our hotel easily.  It was too early to check in so we wandered around the neighbourhood and found a spot for a beer and a bite to eat.  DSC_6252-2

There is a great little park along a canal, across the street from our hotel where we killed a bit more time before we could get our room and the BED!!  Nap time 🙂

We slept for a bit and got up and wandered around the city.  The architecture is very unique.  Tall narrow buildings with very high ceilings.

Every day/time in Amsterdam is 4:20. 🙂

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Found this cute little Smart Car.  It is for 2, but front to back, not side to side.

Ottawa, Toronto

Toronto 2 Ottawa – Aug 2

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When we arrived in Toronto Dana and Jarrod were so happy to see us and have us take over their home.

 

Our ride to Ottawa arrived about 10 packing the fixings for Mimosa’s.  Greg and Leslie offered up toasts to Dana and Jarrod’s engagement, my survival of 2014 and the arrival of Stu and I in Ontario!

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We said good bye to Dana and Jarrod they were sad to see us leave.  We had 3 great days exploring Toronto with them.

 

DSC_6207We hit the road with Greg and Leslie.  Traveled on the 401 for the first bit and  then followed the Trent Severne to Frankford and then Highway 7 for the rest of the drive to Stittsville.   After experiencing the chaos at the 401 rest stops we opted to grab a bite to eat at at a chip wagon along Highway 7.

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Burgers and Poutine beside a lovely little lake.

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We stopped for gas with a farmers market.  They had green and yellow beans displayed in baskets that maybe held 2 cups of beans. The young lady tells us they cost $5.00 and we can mix and match green and yellow.  We say OK and pay her the $5 and her partner bagged the beans while we collected our change.  She hands us the bag.  We dig out the luggage scale and the beans weigh in at 1.4 kg or 3 lbs.

Arrived at Greg and Leslie’s about 5PM – Happy Hour!!

Toronto

Toronto – Aug 1

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DSC_6196We wandered around The Annex today, Dana’s neighbourhood.  It is close to the University of Toronto.  One street, St. Georges has many Frat and Sorority houses on it.  I remember coming here with her when she first moved here looking for apartments.  I also remember hoping she didn’t take an apartment on this street!!  The house on the left is one of the more interesting houses.  We’re not 100% sure it is a Frat or Sorority, but the second floor window of the turret has an air conditioner in the window, the extra space plugged with a pillow.  That kind of screams “STUDENT”  🙂

NMS_6201We moved away from the University area wandering through residential streets.  The homes are so different from what we see on the West Coast.  So much brick, a lot of duplexes or houses almost touching they are so close to each other.  We happened upon this sign in front of the house on the right.

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VictoryCafeWe went to a place called the Victory Cafe for dinner.  It was one of these interesting old homes.  It has quite a large patio and we took advantage of it.  The food was good, however the staff were a bit odd.  They were all young and reminded us of the 70’s, a bit of a time warp.  When they were not looking after patrons they would sit on chairs on the porch and people watch.  Very similar to what we call “the boys” in European cities.  The old men gather in a good spot to sit and watch the passersby.  Quirky!!

Toronto

Toronto – Jul 31

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DSC_6132Off to the Hockey Hall of Fame this afternoon.  Knocking off  a bucket list item for Stu.  Very amazing place.  I was surprised to see a lot of interactive games for the kids.   I suppose it is a great way to them busy while their parents enjoy the museum that they would likely find boring.
DSC_6141We explored the Saint Lawrence Market and relaxed in some great green Adirondack chairs in Berczy Park while trying to find a Geocache.  No luck 🙁  It is warm here, but since we have experienced our western heat wave we aren’t finding the temperatures unbearable.

DSC_6153We have some time before we go to the Blue Jays game.  We found some shade in Round House park very close to Rogers Center.  Take the opportunity to doze a bit.  We discover that this park is the pre game drinking venue.  It isn’t rowdy (at least while we were there)  but lots of groups drinking their own bevys rather than paying the Rogers Center prices.  $11.50 for a tall can on our concourse.

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Rogers Center is right next door to this little thing.

 

Pretty great party atmosphere.DSC_6176

 

 

Toronto

Toronto – Jul 30

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Started the day off with a subway ride to Eaton Center mall.  We had a few things to pick up.  From there we walked down to the waterfront and had lunch at the Amsterdam BrewHouse.  It was very windy out on the patio.  We saw a couple of umbrellas flying toward Lake Ontario and another one take out a string of lights. That had staff taking down umbrellas before patrons were whacked or sent paragliding over the lake.

IMG_20150730_152800We wandered down waterfront boardwalk.  Jarrod found his first Geocache.

Toronto

Arrival in Toronto

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Arrived safe and sound in Toronto.  Dana met us at the Airport and guided us to her apartment on public transit.  Thank goodness for that.  It would have taken us a lot longer or perhaps just a lot more cash as we would have hopped into a cab!

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Welcome sign for us 🙂

 

 

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The view from Dana and Jarrod’s apartment.