O Canada - Toronto and Montreal reunions

Thursday 26 May to Sunday 5 June

Over this period we spent our time visiting three sets of Canadian friends: Mick and Juliette and Jen and Garth in Toronto and Marilyn in Montreal.  

Thursday 26 May to Sunday 29 May, Mick and Jules' on the waterfront.

Thursday - Mick is an old friend of Jono's who moved to Toronto a few years back with work, he now lives with his stunningly gorgeous Canadian girlfriend in an apartment on the waterfront.  

We arrived from Calgary before anyone was home from work, but were able to pick up some keys and let ourselves in.  We dumped our bags and set about exploring the above and below ground parts of Toronto and retrace some nine year old footsteps of Jono's from his last trip to visit Jen on a trip with Gags and Iain during uni.

Later, back at the apartment we got home just in time to greet Mick and Jules as they arrived home.  I hadn't met Jules before, but what's not to like about a girl who walks in the door with a box of cupcakes and offers you a glass of wine?  Wine and quick catch up done, we headed out to explore the waterfront and continue the reunion.  It was at this time that I was introduced to the Bloody Caesar and while the idea of Clamato ("The original tomato clam cocktail") juice didn't initially appeal to me I was hooked after the first sip.  For those Canadians we met on our trip who said they could never find Clamato Juice in Australia check this link to stock up on supplies for your next journey south.

A couple of Caesars later and it was time for dinner.  Various options were discussed, but the final decision was sushi (after a week in the bush and an endless but very unsuccessful healthy diet battle it was a no-brainer).  But this was no ordinary sushi take out in a little box with a rubber band around it, this was sushi on steroids!  Satis-sushi-faction!

What you can find when you pop out from one of the WALK ways.

We went to check out the iceskating rink Jono, Gags and Iain went to last time, but the ice had melted!

Friday - For only the second time on our trip professional medical attention was required as I'd developed an infection over the course of the night, so our Toronto tour that morning revolved mainly around finding a GP that could see me and then locating the required drugs.  The rest of the morning was then spent napping on the couch until the antibiotics kicked in.  When I was sufficiently recovered we checked out the gym in the apartment block and then went exploring the more alternative end of Queen Street's shopping, then treating ourselves to a trip to the hairdressers in preparation for the dinner ahead.

Hair did, we headed back to meet the guys after work and then went on to Trattoria Nervosa in Yorkville for some very delicious Italian and then headed on for a roof-top night cap at a nearby bar.

Saturday - The boys were locked in to golf so us girls had the day to ourselves.  It proceeded something like this:

Sleep in.

Breakfast.

Coffee.

Manicure pedicure.

St Lawrence Market for dinner supplies and a side excursion of cheese tasting.

Yorkville for shopping.

Home for dinner and drinks with the lads and with the most memorable bacon wrapped scallops from the markets!

Sunday - Our last day with the Mick and Jules combo, we packed our bags and gave them their home back and we watched the Blue Jays beat the White Socks at the Rogers Centre.  We ate peanuts, did the Mexican wave, sang Take Me to the Ball Game, joined in on the Seventh Innings Stretch and tried to keep up with the lyrics and moves for 'OK Blue Jays' (we still couldn't even after Jen gave us her rendition later that day check this to understand).

After the game we returned to Mick and Jules's to pick up our bags and taxi over to Jen and Garths' for Part Deux of the Toronto Experience.

Sunday 29 May - Tuesday 1 June - Jen and Garth's 

Poor Jen was studying for... dum dum dum (read: dramatic music) CFA Level 2, so while she was busy during the day she was in prime party mood in the evenings.  Jen came to our college at Uni while on exchange at the ANU from Canada, but it's been 9 or 10 years since we've seen each other, so there was heaps to catch up on over a BBQ at their place.

Monday - Jono and I hung around the area, checking out nearby Greek Town and getting some trip admin done for New York.  That night, when study was done we all headed out to the The Beaches for patio drinks and wings in the sun and then took a wander around the really beautiful area of Toronto.

Jen, Jono, Wings

Jen, Garth and Jono

Tuesday - After looking through Jen and Garths stunning wedding photos we talk to Garth about the idea of having one of the photos framed for Jen's birthday.  Permission granted we take the photo to a nearby framer before getting started with our final day in Toronto.  As we were heading to NY the following Sunday and STILL had nowhere booked we headed into town for a final look around and then made a bee line for a Starbucks to abuse the free wifi and to people watch.  A good three hours later we'd come up with a YMCA to stay in that was near Central Park and was at a reasonable price given the peak season, last minute booking and five nights we needed.  On the way back to Jen's we picked up some cheese (more tasting required) and drinks for Jen for an early birthday celebration.

People watching at Starbucks - the picture doesn't capture the moment adequately: black body suit over a full body yellow leotard. 

Wednesday - Jen's birthday and time for us to make our way on the train to Montreal to visit a Brookes family friend.

Wednesday 1 June - Sunday 5 June - Montreal and Marilyn.
Top marks for the train from Toronto to Montreal with forward facing seats (small, but necessary luxury), power points and free wifi.  Marilyn met us at Dorval (dɔrˈvæl for those who may have pronounced it with an Australian twang, because the emphasis on the 'al' is important, definitely don't go running around saying Dorvl) train station and from there we headed to Saint Ann De Bellevue for lunch by the water.  The weather had been uncharacteristically windy and we checked out the damage on the way back to Marilyn's in Lachine (AKA 'China', after a local in the 1600s attempted to find a passage to China nearby).  A tasty Caesar helps us settle in at Marilyn's and sets the scene for the days ahead.

Thursday - Did you know that 'Montreal' is a derivative of Mount Royal?  Today we receive the 'Royal' tour of this little pocket of France, including a visit to the Old Town and then on for an introduction to Montreal Smoke Meats.  Exhausted after the feast we headed home along the scenic route, collecting Pimms cocktail ingredients along the way.

 

Friday - We continued our tour of the city, stopping by at St Joseph's Oratory and then moving on to visit a bagel factory and collecting bagelicious supplies for our picnic under the sun in the park on Mont Royal.

Saturday - Today we headed north to check out a park on another island, there are only 10 or so houses on the island and the rest is nature reserves, so we check out the area and then stopped for coffee and bagels.  Sufficiently energised Jono and I grabbed a lift into town and did some window shopping on the main street, tested out the attributes of Canadian-Mexican margaritas over American-Mexican margaritas (still good!) and stocked up trip supplies.

That night we all headed out for a goodbye dinner at a local restaurant and then went back home to pack... again!

Sunday - We're on a 10 hour train to New York that left yesterday!  Don't panic, the nice guys in the office will sort things out for you and you can get on the bus. Passports stamped, we're over the border and on our way to New York City!!