Return to Canada - Part One: Toronto

I don't know why I waited so long (15 years) to go back to Montreal.
I left when I was young and had hit some bad times. I went to Seattle to meet family I didn't know but knew existed. From there I met my husband, had a brief stint in Vancouver B.C., back to Seattle to enter the world of online marketing, then to Santa Barbara to know what it is to live near the beach, now in Atlanta. It's hot here.
Just returned from a week in Canada - I fell in love with my old city.

The trip to Canada started on a Friday morning. A simple two hour direct flight from Atlanta and we were in Toronto International Airport, the cleanest, quietest most spacious airport I've ever seen.
Dad picked us up. He couldn't believe it had been almost five years since we saw each other.
He said I hadn't changed a bit. I love him.
This is what I call smiling so hard it hurts...










We spent a couple days in Toronto with my folks. Mom's health isn't so good. I hope she and dad quit smoking and take good care of themselves.






















We stayed at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto. This is the coolest hotel - ever. It has the last hand-operated elevator in Toronto that comes with a red headed cowboy operator named Hank who brings you up to your room and down to the lobby.













Each room in the hotel was designed by Canadian artists. I chose the Puzzle Room designed by Melissa Levin that faced bustling Queen Street.









The shower required near yoga-like movement due to it's tiny size but other than that it was perfect. Great food downstairs in the cafe and restaurant and steps from the streetcar stop that took us all the way down Queen Street to see Leonard Cohen Saturday night.
Check that life long dream off the list.
He was handsome in a fedora and double breasted suit and came running out on stage looking like a younger man. Three hours later, in a daze of poetry and that golden voice we walked the 5km back to our hotel taking in the city at night.

Sunday, mom and dad showed us around Toronto. It was a great day that started with a walk around Kensington Market then Chinatown for mom's first taste ever of leche fruit. Rob showed her how to crack into one. She bought 10.























My mom is stubborn but in a good way. She likes to try new things so when she said she wanted to see the Toronto Music Garden we backed her up. Dad wasn't really into it. I think he was just hungry. When we found the little park on the water we were surprised that there was no music to be heard.










The small print...










We all had a good laugh. At least the lilacs were blooming and that was a smell I hadn't inhaled since I was a kid. Walked around the park and was happy to see locals tucked away in shady alcoves reading or having lunch.

























Dad styling my chic canvas bag, ha ha.













Later on we drove into downtown Toronto for a $14 hamburger and a cold beer on what was a hot day. The whole time we were in the city it was in the high 80's with heavy humidity.
The last stop of the day, with rain clouds looming was a very cool neighborhood on Lake Ontario called The Beaches.
Old two story walk up homes with flower boxes flourishing, kids playing in small front yards and a boardwalk following the lake. So hot, we had to dip our feet in.































The great lake was very, very cold.

There are no more parking meters in Toronto. Things have progressed since the last time I was there and now you sort out paying for parking at kiosks. I was laughing during the 10 minutes it took these three to figure it out. Sometimes you step in to help, other times you stand back and capture the moment. Still chuckling...






















We walked, we shopped for dresses for my niece Ava, we stopped for a beer and when it started to rain we made our way back to The Gladstone Hotel where we said our goodbyes. It was a very good visit and I was happy to see more of a city that was new to me again.

Before giving in to sleep, Rob and I ate a fine Canadian meal of tourtiere, poutine and a good glass of red wine. I was happy he could try some of the things I'd been telling him about for years.










Next entry, part two - Montreal, ma belle ville.