Toronto

March 25-April 2

The next big trip was to Canada. We spent the first day at Niagara Falls, NY and ON. Of course, it was rainy and cold and foggy the whole day, but at least we could see the falls once in a while this time. The last time we were here, we couldn't see through the blizzard. We parked on Goat Island, which Chad and I had never done before. It was a great spot for viewing and walking. Since it was Wednesday, and freezing, and raining, there were only about 3 other families out. We watched the movie about the Niagara Falls adventurers all alone in the theater. We walked out onto the lookout platform for free. Due to ice and low traffic, we decided against the Journey Behind the Falls. 

Buffalo wings in Buffalo, NY

Isla's show and tell for "W" week

 

When we were done being cold and wet, we went to Ripley's Believe It or Not. It was perfect for kids our ages, and it was just how I had remembered the one in Florida when I was 10. We even recreated some pictures that I had taken with similar exhibits in 1984!

That night we had the wonderful opportunity to stay with a friend from my LTTA days in Toronto. Rich and his family are so welcoming and we had a great night of remembering and catching up on family news.

The next day we drove into Toronto and went to the Royal Ontario Museum. Benjamin declared it to have the best dinosaur exhibit he'd EVER seen. We met another old friend for lunch and then walked past the apartment building that Chad and I had lived in. It looked just as dumpy as ever, but maybe looked a little better than I had remembered. We found our old church of St. Basil's behind some huge condos. I was shocked at how many new buildings have been built in the past 10 years.

We stopped into the RCM, but it has been completely gutted and remodeled, so my office didn't exist anymore. We walked to the BATA shoe museum to finish off the tourist section of the day. That night we got to stay with some more friends who now have two kids. They let us take our kids to a Beaver (Scouts) meeting with them. Beavers are co-ed, so Isla could join in, too. It was great fun and a cultural experience. Chad noticed a photo of the queen on the wall. Benjamin fell over and hit his head during an acrobatics exercise, but overall the night was a success.

Friday morning started with a stop at St. Lawrence Market for some back bacon sandwiches. Then we spent our life savings to go up the CN Tower! Again it was not crowded, because it was a hazier day, but we could still see really far in the city. We took the streetcar up to Chinatown for dim sum. Then we walked to Kensington Market, where we ran into Erik and his birthday party crowd. We had papusas and halva before heading back down to MEC. Chad's jacket had broken and we ended up buying a new sun hat for me and a raincoat for Benjamin, too.

We strolled through the Music Garden before driving to our next host's house. After eating Polish food on Roncesvailles, we stayed the night a Chad's academic adviser's house. We had done enough housesitting for them in grad school, that their house felt very comfortable to us.

We returned to Ithaca in time for Palm Sunday. Chad took the kids to Hobby Lobby to buy supplies for their Easter bonnets. The next three days were busily spent making bonnets, taking care of some chickens and ducks for some friends of Chad, and preparing to the New York trip.

The tags for the new car turned up just in time for the trip to New York!