Sight Seeing in Toronto Part 2

With our coupon book the next closest site was the Royal Ontario Museum. Back on the TTC with a Timmy's in hand we are on our way.

TTC station for the ROM

Outside of the ROM, did a spaceship hit that building?

Beavers are cuter than this.

Cutest baby dino evar.

You have to agree with me that this guy is creeeeeeepy.

I made a friend.

Azurite, my new favourite stone.

There is a sign behind me that says 'do not climb on the display'

A wonderful exhibit of dinosaurs, bats, birds, stuffed mammals, raw stones and gems.

TTC: Why would you want to exchange your $3 in change for a very tiny little token? Also why is when I get change for my bill that the cashier person doesn't just take my money....I have to put it in myself. I don't get this silly public transportation.

Back to the subway to catch the train to Niagara Falls. Off t a new place and a huge natural land mark, something new for the both of us.

Day 2 in Toronto

Pop tarts for breakfast! YAY!

  Time to check out and make our way to Union Station to check our bags at Via Rail (Canadian train) For some reason after we left the subway station into the pedway towards the CN tower there were no food dispensaries. When we made it out of the cement sauna called a pedway we turned up on the other side. No not the underworld. Found a crepe stand and bought then ate a very delicious Chicken Teriyaki crepe. 

*mental note make chicken teriyaki crepes when I get home* 

As we waited in line for tickets Danny noticed a City Pass for $60 (this is a fantastic deal check out the link to see what cities have it available.) This is an awesome deal!  5 tourist location including the CN tower so we snatched them up. Done and done. 

Up the tower we go!!!

Some panoramic photographs later, we head one level down to the glass floor. I became slightly apprehensive about stepping on it at first but it turned out to be okay after all.

Standing on the glass floor.

So with our city pass we got to choose a 3D movie or a ride. This ride was part of a short film about the Super-Tree. (Does anyone know about the Super-Tree???) We entered the jostling machine that shot water in my face. I wonder now if we should have seen the 3D movie instead. Water in the face or a 20 minute screen saver. Tough Choice.  

Arrival in Toronto

3 hour flight later

I haven't been to this city since I was 18 and if you don't already know the legal drinking age is 19 so that put a damper on my previous trip.

After a bus to the subway and a short walk we made to the hostel, there was no reception desk which I thought was a bit off putting. A Chinese married couple ran these hostels right from his cell phone, that is right they had more than one hostel. They thought I was Korean, I guess all Chinese people think I am Korean and in Thailand I am Japanese. I must look more mixed than I thought.

Instantly after we arrived they asked if it was alright if we moved hostels....SURE? Did we have a choice? Two doors down we were placed at the top floor of this dorm house. The self serve kitchen was alright but lacked a toaster (later we find out that this is going to be a recurring problem) The wi-fi here was a fail. 

To save some money we headed to the grocery store

* draw light bulb above head now*


we should mix four different kind of microwavable dinners together. Dinner for two for $4 CAD FTW.

After eating this concoction we went on a liquor store hunt, we asked a man with two cases of beer for directions. NO LUCK. WTF?!

We walked on for what felt like the entirety of downtown Toronto on Yonge street. Trying not to be discouraged we went to a restaurant for a pint to end the evening. A quick jaunt back to the strange hostel to watch cable TV (Kill Bill and the beginning to Lost in Translation) This reminded me how much I hate commercials.
 
There was this silly painting in our room that I didn't like very much and gave me the creeps.

We should have more mural art like this in Edmonton

The odd painting in our room

Jenny and Danny Vs. Proper Scheduling

Round 1: After celebrating the completion of The Mural (for NextFest) with my three favourite people in this whole universe.

SideNote: Creating a mural in 6 days was a big challenge but thanks to 8 amazing individuals it was finished on time. You know who you are so give yourself a pat on the back. I am so very grateful that I have so many friends that will help me at a time of need. Thank you from the deepest corner of my full size aortic pump.

3 hours of sleep later, Simon very kindly drove Danny and I to the airport after we scrambled to get everything together.....and we were off.

When we arrived the not so nice West Jet lady informed us that our flight was not until tomorrow.

Hilarious, no?

Now after come laughter we headed home for a day of rest and relaxation. 

Round 2: In the morning off to the Sky Shuttle bus stop for a nice 35 minute ride back to the airport. At a nice and leisurely pace, made it to the airport with time to spare this time. Since the day before we had 10 minutes to board the plane if we had gotten the day correct.

I got randomly searched going through security, they claim that they search 22% of the people that come through. They gave me the option of getting searched by a lady or going through the scanner. Which if I recall correctly that people were petitioning against this since it leaves a picture of your naked body for all to see. I was very apprehensive about the body scan so pat down it is...at least she was nice to chat with. Now we are on our way to Toronto.

The Pixies

This was an all ages show it started fairly early in the evening, I showed up about an hour after doors opened at the Shaw Conference Center. (7:30pm). Met up with some fabulous friends to watch the opening band. 'Imaginary Cities' (A Canadian Band from Winnipeg) just wasn't my cup of tea. Instead I got myself a coffee to entertain and give me something to do while I wait for the headliner.

This post was originally going to be more about the music instead it turned into one long, short joke. Ha ha.

First of all 'I am short'. I know what you are thinking 'THIS IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION' Over the years I have learned that glasses, loose fitting shoes and dangle-ly bits just aren't your friend in the pit. Tonight was a great example why being short doesn't suit concerts, as everyone could have already guess the ability to see the stage for me is pretty much nil. Being short gives you the advantage only if you are willing to play this to the max.

ex. I tap several very tall boys in front of me and he decides 'Yes, you are short enough that I can still look directly over your head and clearly see the show, so you may stand in front of me.' After a certain number of times this method looses it appeal. This doesn't work when they do a full 360 right over and then proceeds to tell their friend how short you were after the second attempt to get his attention. I think its sad that people don't look up or down when things are happening around them. How oblivious.                          >.<

Eventually I made it one person away from the front. Now usually being in the front is ideal since there is literally no one to block your view. Downside is the crowd behind you is going to push you into the bar dislodging your orgasns. Also without eyes on the back of your head there is no way to see when there is an incoming crowd surfer. Again, being short gives me a bit of an awesome cop-out regarding crowd surfers: 1. I can't reach them so I don't have to help hold them up. 2. I'm am usually too short for them to kick me, I have however been kicked because I happened to reside in that empty space that their legs dropped into leaving me with a steel toe boot in the face. Luckily not at this show. 3. No a single soul will ask me to help them go up.

Here we notice that I have not yet gotten over the fact that I love the negative look.

This was how close I was to the stage, no zoom kids.

Back to the original thought, after placing myself into the front so I can take the most optimal photographs I felt the pressure. This pressure is of everyone of all sides pressing my organs into places where they do not belong. It wasn't natural relocation of my innards. This felt very similar to what I believe a garbage compactor would feel and smell like if I could survive being pressed into a cube. Enduring this for about 45 minutes I had to back out at least a couple rows.

Roughly four rows from the front people were just flailing up and down, I'm not going to sick around in this area. I wasn't planning to get an elbow on top of my head or in the eye, this is the biggest dangers for someone of my height standing in this area. I have suffered both those injuries before so if I can avoid it I will. Off I go, now I am back at the end of the crowd there is ample space, a cold breeze that I can actually enjoy and a near by water fountain. (instead of playing nasty concession prices) Now I don't like to be a bleachers person but as we all know there is a totally different atmosphere when you are far enough back to see the entirety of the show.

Here is me taking a photograph from the farthest bleachers

All in all this show was pretty good since they played the 'Dolittle' Album and presented us with two encores.