Frozen

Yesterday was a long but fabulous day. I went on a small group tour to Niagara Falls which included stops at two smaller waterfalls, visits to a small batch gin distillery and boutique winery, a nice Greek lunch, and a frigid day at the world's biggest (by water volume) waterfall.

Tiffany Falls

Sherman Falls

delicious ice wine

American Falls

Horseshoe Falls

Summer (from Bellingham!), Megan and her mom Janey (D.C./Florida), me, Alexander and his wife whose name I didn't catch (Costa Rica by way of Florida), Lili from China (by way of Ann Arbor), Victoria and her brother (Sao Paulo by way of New York) and  Vicky from New York.

When your mittens are soaking wet but you're also kind of a genius. 

Another Thanksgiving in Canada

It's cold in Toronto. Like, REALLY cold. While my friends in Seattle were preparing to eat turkey, I was walking around trying not to freeze to death. I walked through Graffiti Alley, went to the Bata Shoe Museum, and went to see Jay Baruchel talk about his book, "Born into It" at the Toronto Public Library. It just so happens that I've watched a bunch of Jay's movies in the last few months and while I won't say that noticing that Jay's book tour included a stop at the library in Toronto was the reason I decided to come here this weekend, because that would sound creepy and stalkerish, I'm not... not saying that was the reason.

I went to an interview and slide presentation given by Manolo Blahnik about ten years ago in NYC. He was a seriously wacky sort who was fun if someone incomprehensible to listen to, and he showed slides of his beautiful original drawings. The drawings were part of the show at the museum and the shoes were gorgeous. He said he hated to see women in athletic shoes (whatever) so he'd heartily disapprove of my beloved sneaker collection. 

I read almost half this book while waiting for the interview,
and I'm definitely impressed; it's about far more than hockey,
it is quintessentially about CANADA.

Rooms and Views: Toronto

When I was very young, I wanted to live in a high-rise with a view of the big city. I wasn't sure which big city it would be, but I certainly didn't think it would be Toronto. I'm perfectly happy in my low-rise, non-view home in medium-sized Seattle, but for the next five days, this view of Toronto is mine.

It was 22 degrees when I landed and part of me seriously considered cozying up and just staring out the windows for the rest of the evening, but I knew if this November foray into the great frozen north was going to work, I had to bundle up and head out, which I did. Only one thing on the agenda for today, visit the highest spot in North America, the CN Tower. It was about a 20 minute walk, and my face - the only exposed part of my body, was numb when I arrived, but it was worth it. When you live in a medium-sized city, it's good to be reminded what a BIG CITY looks like.

from 1,136 feet up

 

from 1,465 up

view on the walk from my apartment to the tower

daytime view from my apartment