For The Love of Travel

 

 

 

 

 

WOWIE, AWESOME, FABULICIOUS! Yes, I’m afraid we are back to those words…. Niagara is so gorgeous it really takes your breath away, mostly on the Canadian side. That water is falling @ a powerful 60 kms at least, that’s what it’s doing when it approaches the edge anyway. We donned daggy pink plastic sheaths to go on the boat that approaches the waterfall at a safe distance. See that insignificant little black shape in the water?  Yep, that’s us.

The township is really crass and ugly, so we were relieved to travel to the beautiful Niagara on the Lake, with its cute houses, manicured lawns and gorgeous shops…check out http://www.gelatodicarlotta.com. Should have spent a few days here, absolutely lovely.

And on return to Toronto, my appointment with chef Sunsur Lee’s yummy cuisine @ Bent Restaurant, just next door to where I was staying on Dundas West. The duck spring roll and prawns with dumplings were seriously good.

Fully satiated, now off to Montreal.

Took myself to see improv(isation) and sketch comedy at the famous “Second City” last night. Spawning comedians such as John Belushi, Hilda Radner, Dan Akroyd, John Candy, Colin Mochrie, Tina Fey etc…it currently has 4 touring companies operating in North America and 6 casts on Norwegian cruise ships! The cast last night were very entertaining.

Early morning strolling through Chinatown, which offers Vietnamese and Thai delights as well. Some interesting ‘green’ sculpture in the area.

I am one of 2 million people annually that visit the CN tower, with a 350 metre observation deck and glass floor.

Beautiful views this morning of the Art Gallery of Ontario (blue mirror building designed by Frank Gehry), the Centre of Design Uni (the cube on chopsticks building), the golden Royal Canada Bank building and Fairmont hotel ( the Queen stays in little green house on top when she visits), and Centre Island in Lake Ontario, to which I later took a ferry ride. The Toronto yacht club has it’s moorings there.

Lastly, the Distillery complex, a pedestrian village whose cobblestone streets are lined with theatres, galleries, cafés and boutiques.

Arrived this morning after a day of travel from Ketchikan. The disembarkation process was a breeze ….very good to end the tour that way. Said all of our farewells last night at happy hour, martini sampling session and dinner….my Scenic tour group of 40 managed to find each other throughout the day on the ship and met up occasionally at meal times as well. No mean feat in the crowd of 1900 passengers. Decided that that will be my last cruise ship experience.

Going to spend the day with a few fellow travellers who have a whole day in Vancouver before flying out tonight. We are getting on the hop on, hop off bus and see all the city sights, then a walk in Stanley Park.

The brown building is Stanley Park Grill where we had lunch, pistachio encrusted halibut, yum!

Check out Leonard Nimoy’s apartment ( tree growing on roof)….locally called ‘the syringe’ because of the design of the  front of block.

I’m flying to Toronto at sparrow’s fart tomorrow….continuing to be a lovely time…..