My Recent Trip to Toronto, Canada

For over twenty years, Toronto was my home. I don't miss living there but I do miss my mom and closest friends who still live there. Every trip ends up being a whirlwind journey, a mash up of past, present and future. Everyone wants a piece of me and this trip did not disappoint. Sometimes, my poor unsuspecting hubby goes along for the ride. This time, he wisely stayed home.

 Usually, I like to fly from nearby Westchester County Airport, a small picture perfect airline but a new Canadian airline called Porter lured me with the prospect of landing smack in the middle of downtown t the tiny Island Airport. The downside was a departure from Newark, the hulking behemoth of airports located 40 minutes from Manhattan.

Welcome to Porter Airlines. Where are the lines? The surly crew? You mean flying can be pleasant again? I don't recall an easier check-in. Ever.
These photos however, refuse to enlarge. C'est la vie...
because check-in is a breeze, there's no need to arrive much before 40 minutes before departure. Must have been my lucky day, even security were a delight.







A short wait and then...

up, up and away...






puffy, cotton candy clouds, free unlimited snacks, bottled water, and even wine in proper glass stemware. How civilized.



Aerial views are good way to get a new perspective on life. I like this graphic image of colorful shipping containers.





Before you could say, "Are we there yet?" we landed on the sliver of an island.


The Toronto Island Airland. Sweet and small.

Across a narrow strait, loomed the Toronto skyline, punctuated by the CN Tower.

There is only one way to get to the mainland, by water. If you don't have your own boat, there is the worldest short ferry ride.




On the ferry ride...
a ferry employee asked if I wanted her to get a shot of me. I'd forgotten how kind and friendly Canadians are. Some things may not have changed but the skyline had. Building, building everywhere, New condos, cranes for commercial construction pocka-dotted the landscape.











a free Porter shuttle dropped me off at Union Station the train station and the topnotch subway system.


The streetcars (sometimes called red rockets) are an energy efficient mode of travel. The weather, for my entire visit of five days rotated between, sun, drizzle, sun, rain, cloud all day, every day. The schizo weather patterns mirrored my insane schedule of go, go, go.






I began by visiting my mom, who like me, is a cat lover. She was having a bad hair day and refused to be photographed. Here she is with her two cats.







Then, off to a dear friend, another cat lover who refused to be photographed but I did get some shots of some of her kitties taken in her lush secret garden.



















Finally, a friend who didn't mind being being photographed and some more... and I was on the road again to visit some friends in the country who have a fab manor house.















Back in my old 'hood, the hip and happening Annex. It was good to cruise down memory lane.












Endless lunches,shopping, dinner parties, barhopping, until 2, or 3 okay, 4am. It was time to leave. I  decided to take the train back thinking the long ride would me time to read, write and decompress. It did that and more. The conductor, a crusty veteran of the railways, once he found out I write, regaled me with stories too good not to told. I sketched out a short story that I hope will be in print one day.
The washroom key for those of us in Business Class. Oooh, if that key could talk. No, you'll have to wait for the story.






Despite a window, high speeds and a shaky hand, I captured some pretty sunset pics.







Merlin was waiting for me on the porch. Ah, it was good to be home.