10th September 2009
With a really good nights sleep under our belt (probably something to do with missing out the night before) we wandered down past exhibition place to lakeshore, the area along the banks of the lake which has been landscaped with parks and paths. We arrived at the music garden which was inspired by Bach’s suites for the unaccompanied cello. A park which represents the six musical movements in the piece with six garden areas. Really pleasant just to sit back and enjoy with tidy lawns and blooming flowers.
We went back to the hostel to call home to wish Sara a happy birthday (Happy Birthday Sis!), before heading off for our lunch reservation at the revolving restaurant atop the CN tower (351m up). There I sampled crab chowder, followed by stuffed capon (chicken) breast and an exquisite chocolate tower (of course!), Ed went for the mixed brushetta, mixed grill and rum raison bread and butter pudding. A really lovely meal in a wonderful setting where the view comes to you so you don’t even have to leave your seat.
After lunch we went down to the glass floor viewing level which has an area with a glass floor where you can look straight down at the street below. This was a bit of a weird experience and certainly not for those with vertigo. The lift too had a glass floor so you could look straight down the lift shaft as you went up and down.
We walked from CN tower along to St Lawrence Market with its many market stalls selling everything and anything you could want, moving onto Osgoode Hall - one of the best examples of Victorian architecture in the city, then New City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square with its Henry Moore sculpture, the Archer. From there we walked past old city hall to the Eaton Centre which is the main shopping mall in Toronto. Inside is a surprising sculpture featuring Canadian Geese dating from 1979.
Leaving the Eaton Centre we entered Dundas square, where the rock group the Champions were sound checking for a concert later this evening as part of the Toronto International Film Festival currently taking place.
We walked back to the hostel past Ontario Art Gallery and another Henry Moore sculpture, Large Two Forms and University Buildings with pencils for pillars. The architecture is very varied and sometimes quite unusual in Toronto, making it a very pleasant and surprising city to wander around.
Had a quick chat with an old school friend (Hi Lawson!) while sat in the communal lounge at the hostel - nice to catch up :)