(no subject)
Jun. 10th, 2008 07:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
liptonrm_backupHOWDY!
I just woke up from a nap. It was a really good nap, and something I desperately needed. 'Cause you wanna know what I did yesterday? I went to the beach and it was awesome.
I had this whole plan, something totally nerdy that I'm still going to do and I don't want to spoil the surprise by telling you all what it is, but it was such a gorgeous day yesterday that I threw it all out the window and went to the beach instead. You can take the girl out of Michigan but you can't get the girl away from the lake.
In doing so, I discovered things about Toronto that I never really knew, before. Like, the Toronto islands. They're right off the shore and, apparently, in order to get to a proper beach you have to take a ferry over to them. At first I was a little uncertain about getting on the ferry, I thought I'd save my money and just walk up and down the boardwalk, but then I saw a sign that advertised some kiddy amusement park with a carousel and I knew I had to go.
Yes, I rode the carousel and ate cotton candy. I must have looked like a 6 year old in an adult's body, especially when I was sitting on the bench, swinging my feet in the air, with my face and fingers all sticky with blue cotton candy.
It was excellent.
I also did a little wading in Lake Ontario. It was really, really cold but if I'd had my suit I would've jumped in. I was just so happy to be out by the water, to smell it and hear it and feel the wind on my face. It was so much nicer down by the lake than in the stuffy, old city, anyway.
On the ferry ride back storm clouds rolled over the city. All of the passengers ooed and aahed when we saw lightning strike. One bolt came down nearly parallel to the CN Tower. I wish I'd gotten a picture because it was awesome.
And I discovered another use for my map. It makes a lovely faux-umbrella, in a pinch.
BTW, I also had some weird culture shock. Apparently service industry mores are different here than in the States. I'm used to going into a deli and being acknowledged before giving my order, but apparently here in Toronto you have to make yourself known or risk being ignored. I walked out of two delis and a restaurant yesterday because I was so discomfitted. Though, you'd think that once you were seated in a restaurant you wouldn't have to flag your waitress down to get some service. But, the hot dog guy was happy to take my money, so it all worked out. It was a yummy hot dog, too.
Either way, I came home red and happily exhausted. I decided to not go grocery shopping and eat granola bars for dinner instead. After all, I'd eaten cotton candy and soda pop and a hot dog, a little granola wouldn't kill me.
Ferries are fun, especially when you stand right by the front rail, even though all the signs say you have to remain seated. signs, pfft.
It may look like one island ...
But it's really a bunch of tiny, interconnected islands.
There was a bunch of really neat statuary.
And a very pretty formal garden.
But most importantly there was a:
Carousel ...
(I rode the lion. It didn't go up and down, but it made me think of Aslan so I couldn't resist)
And a huge, freaking lake on the other side. Look at all that water, isn't it magnificent?
The Toronto skyline. Very nifty.
Wow, it's already 8 o'clock. I should probably do that reading I have to do. Business, have to remember the business part of this whole excursion. Stupid business.
I just woke up from a nap. It was a really good nap, and something I desperately needed. 'Cause you wanna know what I did yesterday? I went to the beach and it was awesome.
I had this whole plan, something totally nerdy that I'm still going to do and I don't want to spoil the surprise by telling you all what it is, but it was such a gorgeous day yesterday that I threw it all out the window and went to the beach instead. You can take the girl out of Michigan but you can't get the girl away from the lake.
In doing so, I discovered things about Toronto that I never really knew, before. Like, the Toronto islands. They're right off the shore and, apparently, in order to get to a proper beach you have to take a ferry over to them. At first I was a little uncertain about getting on the ferry, I thought I'd save my money and just walk up and down the boardwalk, but then I saw a sign that advertised some kiddy amusement park with a carousel and I knew I had to go.
Yes, I rode the carousel and ate cotton candy. I must have looked like a 6 year old in an adult's body, especially when I was sitting on the bench, swinging my feet in the air, with my face and fingers all sticky with blue cotton candy.
It was excellent.
I also did a little wading in Lake Ontario. It was really, really cold but if I'd had my suit I would've jumped in. I was just so happy to be out by the water, to smell it and hear it and feel the wind on my face. It was so much nicer down by the lake than in the stuffy, old city, anyway.
On the ferry ride back storm clouds rolled over the city. All of the passengers ooed and aahed when we saw lightning strike. One bolt came down nearly parallel to the CN Tower. I wish I'd gotten a picture because it was awesome.
And I discovered another use for my map. It makes a lovely faux-umbrella, in a pinch.
BTW, I also had some weird culture shock. Apparently service industry mores are different here than in the States. I'm used to going into a deli and being acknowledged before giving my order, but apparently here in Toronto you have to make yourself known or risk being ignored. I walked out of two delis and a restaurant yesterday because I was so discomfitted. Though, you'd think that once you were seated in a restaurant you wouldn't have to flag your waitress down to get some service. But, the hot dog guy was happy to take my money, so it all worked out. It was a yummy hot dog, too.
Either way, I came home red and happily exhausted. I decided to not go grocery shopping and eat granola bars for dinner instead. After all, I'd eaten cotton candy and soda pop and a hot dog, a little granola wouldn't kill me.
Ferries are fun, especially when you stand right by the front rail, even though all the signs say you have to remain seated. signs, pfft.
It may look like one island ...
But it's really a bunch of tiny, interconnected islands.
There was a bunch of really neat statuary.
And a very pretty formal garden.
But most importantly there was a:
Carousel ...
(I rode the lion. It didn't go up and down, but it made me think of Aslan so I couldn't resist)
And a huge, freaking lake on the other side. Look at all that water, isn't it magnificent?
The Toronto skyline. Very nifty.
Wow, it's already 8 o'clock. I should probably do that reading I have to do. Business, have to remember the business part of this whole excursion. Stupid business.
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no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 02:03 am (UTC)That's not the norm.
Now I've got a craving for cotton candy which I haven't had in like.... oh, 35 years or so.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 05:49 pm (UTC)The cotton candy was excellent. Sometimes it's fun pretending to be a kid again. =D
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:46 am (UTC)Aren't good naps the best? I think they're the best? Don't you? Of course you do. You're awesome. :-)
no subject
Date: 2008-06-13 03:09 pm (UTC)*smooch*