Next stop, Toronto!

I realise that I am a bit behind on the blog, so my apologies for that, but it is really because there has been so much to do that getting time to sit at the computer has been a bit of a challenge, but surely that's how it should be?

Tuesday 24th August, Brian dropped Grace and I to the 'Go Bus' stop in Cavan to make our journey into Toronto the way the commuters do, by bus and train.  So we said our goodbyes to Brian, hopped on the bus which dropped us at Oshawa train station and within 2 hours of leaving home, we were in Toronto Union Station which was conveniently located just opposite our hotel.  

What was slightly less convenient however was that the go station was location below ground level and the only way we could see to access the hotel was to climb several flights of stairs with our suitcases...so we made a start.  Half way up as we stopped to check we were where we thought we should be, a woman stopped to ask what we were looking for and kindly offered to tell us where the nearest liquor store was! 

Grace's son in law had booked our rooms in the Fairmont Gold section of the hotel, getting us a much reduced room rate as he uses the hotel regularly for business.  At reception Grace gave her name, but there was no booking in her name so she tried Ron's name and immediately the booking came up on the system.  'Ah yes, we have it under Dr Mason's name, Dr Mason is a regular visitor and is very good to us'.   That was a little surprising to Grace who didn't know that her son in law was a Dr (of medicine or PhD) and was the start of something which caused us great amusement, but I will save that for a little later!

President Sarkozy stayed at the same hotel during the G8 and was heard to remark that he saw 'nothing sumptuous' about the accommodation, but when I saw the room, I had no doubt it was more than sumptuous enough for me!  And whats more, a bottle of Moet was delivered closely followed by some chocolate decorated strawberries, a gift from Grace's daughter Julie.  Very yummy indeed.

We spent the afternoon on the open top bus tour of the city, looking at the sights and taking photos, a very good way to see as many sights as we could in the time we had without the need to walk too far. Photos will follow when I get wifi access next.

The highlight of tuesday however was dinner at the top of the CN Tower, an amazing view as we revolved 360 degrees in 72 minutes, starting with a view over Lake Ontario as we sat down, round to the West as the sun set, and then a view across the city as the light faded and the sky scrapers lit up like Christmas trees.  Beautiful!  And the food was exceptionally good too.  A truly memorable evening after an exciting day.

And then it was time for bed in what I came to describe as 'My Cloud'.  Soft white bed linen on a very soft mattress with squidgy 5* pillows.  A very good nights sleep after a very exciting day!