Random thoughts about Toronto

John keeps looking at the blog over my shoulder and telling me

the one Mondrian that we saw

things that I should be putting in here, like more information about him.  Actually, he reminds me of stuff that I forgot, but he does this while we are driving and then when I’m blogging, I forget the things that he talked about.  John’s presentation went well  

self portrait of Fabritius, painter of the Goldfinch

and we got to enjoy a little bit of Toronto for the day.  We did like the view of the CN tower from the art museum and were able to hit one of the LCBOs for some ice cider (like ice wine, but pressed from apples) and a sea salt caramel liquor, started packing up the ton of  paraphernalia that we have in the hotel room while Oscar still napped and then decided to hit

  the restaurant at the hotel just to make it easy on ourselves.  And of course, it was the best food that we have had in Toronto so far.  This happened to us in Dublin too, we had the best food in our own hotel there too, but there is this feeling that you must go further afield, must find that place or food that is definitive of a city, but maybe that’s just a mirage anyway.  We sat in the bar which was empty and the bartender did say that they don’t allow people under 19 in the bar, but he said that Oscar could stay.  We had a good 

time talking with him and he mentioned that he hasn’t had a car in 15 years since he walks to work and lives in downtown Toronto.  He said that means that he hasn’t flipped anyone off in 15 years because of that.  We’ve left the car in the parking deck the entire time that we have been here mainly

 because the parking deck is so confusing that we don’t want to navigate it again even to leave.

 Toronto is a really international city and just sitting in the window of the bar and watching the people walk by was interesting.  It didn’t hurt that maple salmon was delicious and John had a great beer with his Bolognese while Oscar had his bottle.  It was a nice little dinner for 3 and I’m kind of sad that we’re leaving tomorrow because they have some Caribbean Carnival thing that seems like Mardi Gras with barely clad people and parties.  But, it’s time to go visit family for a couple of days.