A couple of blonde moments.

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Great day of walking
A couple of blonde moments
Feet gonna fall off?

I woke up this morning and thought to myself. "I should check my train ticket to see what time I take off tomorrow." Well, I looked at my ticket and had to take a double take (since the light in wasn't yet turned on in our room.) I was supposed to be on the train in exactly 2 minutes! What! I'm not sure why I kept thinking I was leaving for Niagara Falls on the 29th - Saturday. Then I checked my ticket where it clearly stated the 28th. I guess to reinforce my thought of the 29th was the fact that I had written in my calendar that's the day I'm leaving for Niagara and also when I made the hostel booking...check out of Toronto on the 29th...book into the hostel in Niagara on the 29th. Doh! Just goes to show all the days are melding into one. Yup, every day’s a Saturday! lol I’m not sure what compelled me to tell the ticket guy the 28th and I why I didn't notice it sooner. I'll never know. But I wasn't too panicked. I figured I'd walk over to the train station that wasn't too far away and get a new ticket issued and everything sorted out.

So I took my time having some breakfast in the kitchen and read the weekly rag called Now. I'd say it's equivalent to the Georgia Straight back in Vancouver. Hey, there are movie listings in there. What's playing? Wait, where’s the closest Famous Player's so I can use one of my movie coupons? I found one that's only about 10 to 15 minutes away from my hostel. Awesome. So of the shows playing there I'd probably either see "The Weatherman" with Nicholas Cage or "North Country" with Charlize Theron. So I tore out the show times section for future reference and finished reading the paper. There are a few theatrical performances that look interesting like the Blue Man Group or this new play called E-dentity that looks at how our lives are affected by the cyber world (or something like that.) It’s a bummer that most shows don't run on Mondays. I also saw that the CBC has a museum and a couple of exhibits sound interesting so I'll see if they're open on Monday and if it's not too pricey I may have a look.

Anyhoo, after a long and leisurely breakfast, I got my act together and made sure my first stop was to the train station! Once there I had to wait in line for a bit before having to explain my "blonde" moment. No problem! The guy made a few clicks here, a few clicks there and my ticket was updated and I got a new one issued. Piece of cake!

The first on my list of things to do today was to check out Chinatown. So I headed up to Dundas and over to Spadina. I wasn't thinking when I ate breakfast because here I was in Chinatown surrounded by lots of yummy foods and I wasn't even hungry! So I just wandered the streets a bit. Did you know you can get your hair cut for $8? Or even a better deal; get a perm for only $28? What a steal. I didn't want to get tempted and get a perm so I headed off to check out the Kensington Market. Still not hungry and to be honest I'm a little bit tired of browsing through shops so I decided I'd go for a walk westward on Bloor Street to check out a stamp store I saw listed on the net. Man, it turned out to be quite some walk! I'd say at least an hour if not more! But that's okay. Along the way I passed by a couple of neighbourhoods like what seemed to be Koreantown. So lots of places to eat but I'm still not hungry. Perhaps on my trek back.

So I made it to Great Impressions/Bizzy B's Stamp Shop and before entering I thought to myself..."this had better be a good one!" Well, it's not a huge store but it was full of lots of goodies and only one person working. So I started up a conversation with her and we ended up talking for quite a while. They have so many great examples on display and the salesclerk was disappointed to hear I wouldn't be in Toronto on the weekend to attend their altered book course. Altered books are basically a book (any book) that you alter by painting, collaging, gluing, decorating in various ways, tearing etc ( you get the idea) and make it into another work of art. Hence the name of the craft, altered book! It looked quite interesting. I've seen many examples of altered books before but the one she showed me was simply awesome! It's too hard to describe and is one of those things you just have to see for yourself. Anyway, I of course started talking about my travels since I was getting all these ideas ready for my scrapbook (when by the way I'm itching to start!) Amazingly enough I only spent about $50 in that store which isn't too bad especially since it will be going towards my scrapbook. 😊

I probably would have stayed at the store longer but it was getting on in the afternoon and my stomach was starting to rumble. So I had to say goodbye and make my way eastward towards some food. I settled on a bowl of steaming Vietnamese noodles since a bowl of hot soup is excellent on such a chilly day like today. Mmm, good choice!

The Spadina/Bloor/Dundas areas of the city are excellent for super cheap internet rates. Between $1 and $2 per hour! So I couldn't pass up using the internet. 😊 As you may travel blog subscribers know, I made a few entries and am only a few days behind now. I can't believe I finished another notebook too! So I think that was the partial motivation for me to get the blog updated...I wanted to be able to toss the finished notebook so I'd only have to carry one! Mission accomplished!

By this time, it was about 6:30 and I figured it was about time to get myself to the theatre, pick up a snack or two, contemplate which movie to see and settle eventually settled on "The Weatherman" and went to find myself a seat. I was almost at my theatre when I turned the corner and a guy with a camera is taping this tall black guy. Hmm, I wonder if that's a basketball player. I didn't hang around because the crowds started to gather. I get into the theatre and boy is the theatre pretty full! I guess being the opening day for "The Weatherman" is a popular choice for many! I settle in and open my Twizzlers. Hmm, they sure are running a lot of previews. Hey, the movies stating already? I guess I took longer than expected. Wait, it's only 7:30. I thought the film started at 7:40? Wait a second...am I in the wrong theatre? Yikes! I am. Hmm, should I risk embarrassment and have to say excuse me again to get out of the theatre or should I just wait and see what movie is playing before deciding that? Hmm, that's Charlize Theron up on the screen. I think I've landed in the theatre showing "North Country". So I decided to stay put since I was thinking of watching this movie earlier. I'm glad I stayed because it was an awesome movie! The movie was inspired by a landmark class action sexual harassment suit against a Northern Minnesota Mining Company. Charlize's character, Josie, was one of the few women that worked at the mine and it was difficult to believe some of the abuse these women went through in the 70's and 80's. It was a very moving film and I wouldn't be surprised if some walked out angry and empowered at the same time...I think I was one of those people. Well, maybe not truly angry but perturbed for sure. lol. It really makes you think that as human beings some of us can be so cruel and petty.

Anyhoo, I'm glad for my second blonde moment of the day and one wide turn landing me in the wrong theatre turned out to be the correct theatre in the end. 😊

After the film I ended up just walking home since by this time it was close to 10 and I was getting hungry again! No worries though. I have that chicken I should really get cooked up.

So I made my chicken. Ate some and packed the rest up to bring with me to Niagara Falls where I'll also make my spaghetti. See, I'm not totally lazy in the cooking department every day! lol

When I got back to my room, Anne seemed really excited to see me because for some reason she thought I had left for Niagara Falls already. I guess she didn't notice my bags on the floor. lol. I pretty much organized my stuff, chatted a bit and then took a shower before hitting the sack. I've got an early morning start since I want to stop off at the grocery store before getting to the train station. And you know me, I'm always one to have lots of spare time on my hands before having to catch a train! Well, that is if I know I have to catch a train. HAHA!

After such a long day on my feet I'm guessing a good night's sleep is in the cards. I'm surprised my feet haven't fallen off...touch wood!

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Photos

The CN Tower
I didn't take many photos while in Toronto.

Comments

[Joel]

Thanks for the laughs!
Just wanted to let you know that your blog has been keeping me entertained. I know what you mean about having a "blonde" moment. I seem to have quite a few of those myself at times. Great to read you made it home safely and I look forward to blogs on future travels you may have.