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We landed in Toronto around 1pm Friday afternoon and the sun was shining. Through baggage collection, customs, and immigration then to the shuttle bus much without too many delays. Our hotel is one of the biggest in Toronto, if not the biggest with 1,300 rooms and the shuttle took us to the door step for a mere $19. The prime minister is staying at our hotel and when the Queen is in town she grabs a room here as well. It is the Fairmont Royal York (www.fairmont.com/royalyork/) and it is amazing.
We go settled then made our way to the CN Tower (www.cntower.ca). We went up to the Look Out, then I went higher the Sky Pod and walked on the glass floor. We sipped champagne cocktails at the Horizons restaurant and watched the sun set. Looking our over the water was rather spectacular. As we walked back to our hotel we found a restaurant (I use the term loosely) for dinner with very average service and food. It filled our bellies and we headed back to the hotel for the night,
We woke to a beautiful sunny Saturday. Marika visited relatives for the day and I had a
very slow start. Didn't get to breakfast until 11ish. Hey, I'm on holidays. I then found a place to get my eye brows waxed. It's been 4 weeks, my mono brow was returning. I then did a trip to the post office then finally made my way to do something touristy. I got a ticket for the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour, boarding at 2:15pm. Our guide was young and funny and it was a nice sunny day. I sat up the top and soaked up heaps of vitamin D. And yes Katherine, I had sunscreen on. Probably should have reapplied it, and worn a hat. The tour included a cruise on the harbour for an hour which was great fun. The captain and first mate were two young girls that kept the entire ferry captivated. By the time we were ending the trip it was just after 7pm and the sun was slowly setting on Toronto making the city glow.
Marika and I met up for dinner. We found a nice restaurant called Beerbistro, yes it had beer, beer and more beer to drink. Beer food, suggested beers with each meal including deserts and of course a
beer tasting selection. Marika gasped at the menu with no wine! Really what did you expect, and I let her pick this one cause the night before I picked and it sucked. Well she took a deep breath and I asked for the wine menu and they actually had some nice wine to offer. I had a chicken dish with a German beer and it was great. I stopped there with the beer though and had coffee with my chocolate sundae.
Sunday was another beautiful sunny spring day. Around 30 degrees again and we headed out just before 9am to Niagara Falls. Well, what a spectacular day. It exceeded all of my expectations. The Maid of the Mist boat ride into the Falls was so much fun. We were given attractive blue ponchos, which without we would have been drenched. It was a half hour of total excitement and I wanted to do it again. We had a bit of shopping time then met our tour group for lunch over looking the falls. After lunch, some more photo opportunities outside over looking the falls. Ever so often when the wind changed the mist would float over all the people
standing there. Some running for cover, but I stayed out there with the squealing kids. It was like playing in the rain, and then the beautiful rainbows came out. It was really magical. We got back on the bus and had a look at the Niagara Whirlpool, then on to Niagara Lake which was very peaceful. We got back to Toronto just before 7pm and decided to head out to dinner. Well Marika was starving by this stage as there was no afternoon tea scheduled on the tour. We were pointed towards a Greek seafood restaurant by the concierge. It was very nice, but we were very tired, so ate and went home to our hotel for an early night as we were leaving for Memphis the next day and Marika wanted to be primed for all things Elvis.
We got up, showered, ate breaky and planned to catch the shuttle to the airport at 11am to get us there by 12pm for our 1:55pm flight. Well we discovered thanks to Byron (on the phone) that our flight was 11:15am. Well mine was. Marika's was 1:55pm.
Marika's and my itinerary’s were different. Anyway, we got on the 11am
shuttle to the airport as planned and went to the quick check in counter things hoping that we were both on the 1:55pm flight and Tessa (our travel agent) had just printed out mine wrong. Marika was on the 1.55 pm flight and I had missed the 11:15am flight that I was booked on. Why we were booked on different flights I don't know, but will get to the bottom of. So I had to queue up to speak to someone. Not only had I missed my flight, but as a result the connecting flight got cancelled. Thankfully there were seats available on the 1.55pm flight, but I had to pay another CAD$55. The American Airlines lady said I should send it to my travel agent.
So we made our way to the Admirals Club for an hour. Then just as we were about to get up, and just as Marika swallowed her travel sickness tablet, there was an announcement that the 1.55pm was delayed 90 minutes and anyone with connecting flight needed to go to the gate. So we went to the gate and yes the delay would cause us to miss our connection to Memphis. So we
were diverted to Dallas, which was another hour wait and an hour longer flight. Which in the scheme of things isn't too bad, could have been a lot worse. We could have had to spent hours sitting around. So I continued to drink Bloody Mary’s.
We then spent a few hours in Dallas Texas, the Admirals Club is much better than JFK or Toronto. And yes I am drinking more free Bloody Mary’s. We will eventually get to Memphis at 11pm tonight. Bit of a buggar as we have lost a whole day to travel, but as I said it could have been much much worse.
Marika has given me instructions to be ready to leave the Heartbreak Hotel at 8:45am tomorrow so we get to Graceland by 9am when it opens. Yes our hotel in over the road from Graceland, and it is open from 9am until 5pm and I think Marika will be in there all day long. She hasn't wiped the smile from her face since we landed in Memphis. Oh besides when she got her suitcase of the baggage conveyor and the handle was broken, or when we missed our shuttle bus to the
hotel. But she is sleeping soundly now and most probably dreaming of Elvis.
Good night. x
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Heather
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I enjoyed reading about your travels from Canada to Memphis! I haven't been to Graceland but I hear it's very interesting! My blog is looking for travel tips, photos, etc, to share. If you have the time, check it out at dirty-hippies.blogspot.com, or email us at dirtyhippiesblog@gmail.com. Continued fun on your travels and enjoy your time here in the states! Heather :)