From Kensington Market to Hogwarts

Kensington Market was the first thing on our agenda for today.  When we arrived, we decided to grab some lunch since most of us hadn't yet eaten.   Overwhelmed by options, I elected to copy Renee and get the pastor and chorizo tacos.  I was not disappointed though I must admit that my tacos look nothing like these ones.  To quote Chris, these guys know what they're doing.

The kids then hit up every thrift shop they could find until Danica finally found something she liked in the last store we entered.   I enjoyed strolling through the Blue Banana Market store and giggling at their funny wares, as well as checking out all the murals/graffiti and art installations in the area.

After 3 hot hours in Kensington, we headed to Chinatown for an early dinner.

As it was almost show time, we ventured towards the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre to find parking.  Then since we has about 45 minutes to spare, we wandered through Yonge-Dundas Square and some of us went to Winners while one of us sprinted through the Eaton's Centre. 

And on into the theatre we went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.  It was magical with impressive special effects.  Danica loved it, Duncan seemed to enjoy it but less enthusiastically.  The adults were confused at the beginning but once we got into the story, we enjoyed it too.  

And that's it for Day 2....Chris and Renee dropped us back at our hotel, we said our goodbyes, they headed back home and off we went to bed...

Christmas in August?

A few years ago, I decided that we all had too much stuff.  To avoid accumulating even more unnecessary stuff, I started gifting experiences.  For Christmas last year, hoping that Covid was going to be but a distant memory, I gifted the kids a trip to Toronto.   Now, they've been to Toronto before and seen all the major tourist attractions during various visits, but we always stay with my brother outside the city and go in for the activity for this visit and then back to their place.  We have never stayed and explored Toronto. 

Miraculously, our flight not only departed but landed and arrived at the gate 6 minutes ahead of schedule!  For those unaware, Pearson has been rated the worst airport in the world for delayed and canceled flights for the past few months.  Once we landed, we navigated our way over to Terminal 3 to catch the UP Express train to downtown and from Union Station, managed to catch the subway to our hotel (albeit not quickly or smoothly enough for Duncan).  After dropping our bags in the luggage room of our hotel, we were off.

After grabbing some breakfast at The Croissant Tree, we headed back to the subway and found our way to Yorkdale mall.  We shopped for a couple of hours until it was time to attend the reason for us being at Yorkdale in the first place - the Friends Experience!

Along with too many others, we got to sit on the couch in front of the iconic fountain,

Pivot Ross' sofa up the stairs,

Wear all of Chandler's clothes a la Joey,

And hang out in Chandler and Joey's apartment. 

Of course we also got to help in Monica's kitchen,

Knock on the famed purple door,

And write on Chandler and Joey's Etch-a-Sketch.

But no visit to our beloved Friends would be complete without a rousing rendition of Smelly Cat

Or a visit to Central Perk.

After saying goodbye to our Friends, we headed to The Cheesecake Factory to meet Chris and Renee for dinner.  We managed to score free desserts because apparently we were waiting longer for our food than our server thought we should. 

Now it was time to actually check in to our hotel, The Anndore house, before heading to the Princess of Wales Theatre to see & Juliet.  What a fantastic show!  It was a reimagining of Romeo & Juliet; what would happen if Juliet didn't die?  It was laugh out loud funny, with bright, colourful sets and full of pop hits, like Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry and even some Bon Jovi.  At times, I wasn't sure if I was enjoying the show or watching the kids smiling and laughing more.  Duncan actually started texting his friends about it after the show and now they want to see it too.  I highly recommend it (but it ends it's run Sunday before heading to Broadway).  Thanks for telling us about it, Mom!

We then dropped the kids off at the hotel before we headed for a drink at The Distillery District.   It was quiet but the company and conversation were good.  After a 23 hour day (we were up at 3am to catch our flight), it's time for bed...

Homeward Bound - June 13, 2022

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, but not before indulging in some Newfie Poutine at the airport! 

Sunrise and Mimosas - June 12, 2022

For our last full day on the Rock, we woke up before the sun to head to Cape Spear.   For those who don't know, Cape Spear is the easternmost point of North America which means we were first to see the sun rise (along with the other early birds we met there).

On the way back to town, we came around the corner to see this beauty in the middle of the highway. 

After freshening up and picking up Harry and Rose who decided they needed sleep more than sunrises, we headed back to Quidi Vidi for brunch at Mallard Cottage.   Mallard Cottage is a restaurant located in one of the oldest wooden structures in Newfoundland.  They are known for locally sourced seasonal fare and have gardens, chickens and bees of their own in the back.

Having decided that I wanted to be brave and try some local delicacies, I elected to try the eggs Benedict with the breakfast meat of the day which turned out to be seal.   It was actually quite tasty.  It was mildly flavoured and resembled a thinly sliced teriyaki.  Of course I got a cake table box to go as well.

Since we hadn't yet done much shopping, we decided a wander down Water Street was in order.  We quickly realized that Kelly and I like to shop along one side of the street, cross and then continue back along the other side.   The others prefer to criss cross willy nilly to hit up the stores they felt like visiting.   They likely spent more money and bought more souvenirs, but Kelly and I found $3 mimosas at the Gypsy Tea Room. 

Our bartender was fantastic; he was a young bayman turned townie who kept the mimosas coming while providing us with very interesting insights and education into life in Newfoundland and the hunting and fishing industry.   He explained how the regulations imposed upon them by people who don't appreciate the impacts of them on their way of life have wreaked havoc upon their economy.  He told us about how banning the seal hunt has meant that people in Labrador can't provide food for their families.   Watermelon there may cost $70 if you are even able to find food on the shelves that week    He said that the overpopulation of seals has decimated the fishing industry in Newfoundland.   People picture them clubbing baby seals but that's completely inaccurate and the penalties for killing a baby are harsh (lose your house, your car, big fines).  Yet, celebrities come with PETA to protest the seal hunt, ignore the advice of the locals and pose with baby seals who were left on the ice floes as their parents went in search of food, essentially sentencing the babies they're claiming to protect to starvation.  The babies will no longer be imprinted on the parents so will be abandoned.  

The rules and regulations on the fishing industry have hurt them too.  They are only allowed 2 salmon per season and once they catch their quota, they have to return their licenses.  They are also only allowed 5 or 6 cod per day,  with strict rules about size of fish and harsh penalties for not following the rules.  He said that although they live on an island, they are needing to import fish.

After our tour of the basement, we headed onto Shamrock City Pub for happy hour as per the recommendation of the lovely bartender.   The music was good and the beer was cold.  

If any of you know my parents and have heard my dad's stories about their trip to Newfoundland, you have likely heard him talk about Oliver's.   Because he talks about it so often, Renee thought we should be sure to check it out.  The food was good but the funny thing is that my parents didn't eat there.  They ate at a restaurant called The Cellar which was located on the second floor of a building; it is no longer open, likely another covid casualty.