Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts

05 November 2026

Saturday Oct 31 - Warsaw - Paris - Toronto


Saturday, October 31

Today was all about smooth transit and heading home. We had our last breakfast in Warsaw, and I made sure I had some pastries.

We got a Bolt around 10 to the airport for our 1:05 PM flight. Once the gates were open we were checked in quickly and through security in no time.


We finally tracked down the Air France lounge Fantazja Executive Lounge (located in the Schengen area, near gates 36–37).


Our flight was delayed 15 minutes due to the late arrival of the plane as a result of strong head winds that would be to our advantage (luckily) in the way to Paris.

Another case of having to go down multiple stairs to board a bus. The use of apron buses should be noted on bookings. 
An apron bus (also called an airside transfer bus or ramp bus) is a specialized vehicle used at airports to transport passengers and crew between terminal gates and aircraft parked at remote stands or hardstands. 
The bus sat for quite a while before getting to the plane where it then did several circles as they continued cleaning the plane. 
We watched as people struggled carrying their luggage up the outside stairs of the plane.


Finally we took off 30 minutes late that we made up.




We were in row 3, I was amused by row 2 solo occupant, who was wearing an off the shoulder sweater with super long red nails (Andrew, think Phyllis' nails) and her little (rat size) dog in the carrier, the flight attendant tried to tell her to put the carrier on the floor, but she (passenger) slipped her some money and told the attendant (in French) that she was soooo kind....

The wine looked rather cloudy and the flight attendant quickly noticed and said all the bottles looked the same would we accept a glass of champagne?!?!






We landed in Paris, and really Air France, it is your own airport and we get shuttled onto another bus miles from the terminal when almost everyone has a connecting flight???????

We had miles to walk to our gate, luckily we were waved through passport control to an automated passport reader (mind you, they took several tries to work).

We reached our gate with some time to spare.


We settled into row 6 and 7, one in front of the other. Air France layout is the same as Air Canada 1-2-1. I heard a woman approach John so I popped up like a weasel!! She wanted him to change with her, she was somewhere further up and her husband was on the aisle by John. Once I popped up, she went oh, and went off to ask the woman beside her husband, who kindly did move.

Some food porn. I disliked the cream of corn soup, John liked it.
We both agreed the trout was very good.







AF video collection was awful.


My duck had overcooked (runny, mushy) mashed potatoes. John loved his beef.




Desserts were delicious!


John finished off with a brandy.


We arrived on time, cleared customs via terminal (it didn't like John, and wouldn't take his photo)
and got our luggage immediately, and we were in a limo and home by 10 PM!!


02 November 2026

Monday Mural



This is the "Just Imagine" mural by artist Kseniya Tsoy, located at the Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto.
The artwork features vibrant, larger-than-life whales swimming among blooming yellow poppies and other colorful flowers.
It was organized by The Everyone Collective to create a whimsical escape for commuters in downtown Toronto.



30 October 2026

Weekend Roundup

 Welcome to The Weekend Roundup...hosted by Tom The Back Roads Traveler


 1. Starts with "R"
2. A Favorite
3.  RUSTY - Chosen by Tom

Starts with R
RACCOON


FAVOURITE
RAINBOW REYKJAVIK Iceland 



RUSTY




REFLECTIONS

RHUBARD REFLECTION Writers' ROOM Park Hyatt Hotel Toronto



26 October 2026

Monday Mural

 

 I'm linking up at Monday Mural

August 2026 - Toronto ON

It was created through a collaboration between Indigenous artist Nyle Miigizi Johnston and artist Monica Wickeler.

The artwork features large-scale Woodland-style animal figures painted in vivid, stylized colors against a deep background woven with white botanical line art:

The Golden Fox: Perched prominently near the center, the fox stands atop a dark, heavily patterned land mass. Johnston's work frequently draws from traditional Ojibwe stories, where animals often carry distinct teachings or spiritual significance regarding our relationship with nature.

The Turtle: On the left side, a large turtle is depicted with a bright shell composed of pink, yellow, and green sections. In many Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island (North America), the turtle symbolizes creation, wisdom, and the earth itself.

Flora and Elements: Underneath the wildlife, an intricate web of white outlines displays local medicinal plants, ferns, and organic root systems. It grounds the animals in a living landscape, speaking directly to themes of environmental stewardship, connection, and healing.



22 October 2026

Weekend Roundup

Welcome to The Weekend Roundup...hosted by Tom The Back Roads Traveller


1. Starts with "Q"
2. A Favorite
3. Queen - chosen by Tom

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS

Starts with Q

 QURAN Yonge St. Toronto


FAVOURITE



QUEEN
The bronze Sissi Statue depicts Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Queen of Hungary (affectionately known as Sisi). Created by sculptor Måria R. Törley, it stands on Madåch Imre tér in the 7th district (Erzsébetvåros).





REFLECTIONS 
QUIDI VIDI St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador



21 October 2026

Signs

 Joining Tom at Signs2

Toronto license plates spotted recently. I don't really know why you would choose either of these.



Not a plate, but interesting art on a truck.





17 October 2026

Weekend Roundup

  Welcome to The Weekend Roundup...hosted by Tom The Back Roads Traveller

1. Starts with "P"
2. A Favorite
3. - chosen by Tom

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS

Starts with P 
PEPPERS


FAVOURITE
PIG (not John!)




PLAIN

Ennis Montana







REFLECTIONS PALACE PIER



12 October 2026

Monday Mural

  I'm linking up at Monday Mural

May 2026 - Toronto ON

This mural is located at Queen Street West and O'Hara Avenue in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood. 

It is a collaborative work featuring artists Bruno Smoky, Monki, and Gratian.
The artwork includes a prominent green, top-hat-wearing creature and a blue pirate mermaid.\It was was completed around April 2026.
I think it's pretty cool!



10 October 2026

Jumping Bean

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

9 October 2026 - Toronto ON
ST. JOHN'S NL

LAST WEEK'S POST

Saturday
Just for fun, what did I do today??
Added frequent flyer numbers and passport info on AF website. Wrote them on our paper tickets and added to my cell.
Wrote 3 posts. Linked up weekly post and September recap.
Provided info to cruise company for refund - they had all that info already since had already taken my money, whatever, I'll play nice.
Read some blogs.
I had a major meltdown as I thought my laptop had died. It didn't but I then did multiple backups of files and photos just in case!!!
Showered, dressed and lunched. Took pork out for dinner. Checked the weather in Budapest.
Spent ages trying to buy train tickets on a Hungarian website, finally success. 
I did a load of laundry after we (finally) unpacked our suitcase. 
It took thirty minutes to optimize my laptop, I had forgotten to do it last month.
I installed Apple on my laptop. Looked for MKR new season but couldn't get it to open.
Filed some photos. Did our mail in voting for mayor.
Prepped dinner.
Changed all the garbage, regular, recycling and green bin.

John took a walk to get some cool, fresh air.









We watched the first episode of new series War. Two top London law firms clash over a shocking divorce case that rocks the legal world, with elite attorneys from Cathcarts and Taylor and Byrne battling for supremacy. Hey, Dominic West stars in it, so it has to be good.
We also caught up on Criminal Intent Toronto.


Sunday 
We had 10:15 mani pedi appointments but we are still coughing so cancelled until Wednesday.
We just laid low and entertained ourselves.

Monday

John cancelled golf. We decided to remove a day in Sofia from our plan, it was for one night and involved a flight, so didn't make a lot of sense, we added the day to Belgrade. I confirmed the additional night with the hotel. We also booked our flight from Bucharest to Warsaw.

I got Euros from the bank (FCP) and walked to the Eaton Centre for a sweater that I wanted and also found one for John. I had sushi.
This is a new sign at Union Station. How civilized life was. Now there aren't even any benches or seats because the "unhoused" homeless would occupy them.


I also got confirmation that we will receive a 100% credit from the cruise company. 

We had our first frost warning!




Tuesday
Tuesday Treasures - Little Bighorn
T Stands for Tuesday

With all the news around Cornell I found this to be very interesting.

We stopped into Uniqlo at Union first and John found two lighter sweaters.

We headed to College Park and the subway was a joy, service was turned back at College Park due to "an injury at track level", shut down service between College Park and St. Clair stations. I must say there WERE shuttle buses outside, but the lines were huge.

At Winners we found two suitcases to replace out trusty almost 15 yo ones. The subway was going to be chaotic and we had the suitcases so we walked back.







Wednesday

10:15 mani pedi appointments came early after getting up at 8!! Walking back.



We headed out at 3:15 to meet John's daughter at Billy Bishop. 
Philip Cote (Anishinaabe-Algonquin muralist and ancestral knowledge keeper)


Cute! As we headed home on the shuttle.


She had been here for a conference and could only book the 7:30 flight home (company rules), so she didn't have time for dinner like we usually do. We took the Porter shuttle to Billy Bishop (island) airport and chatted until 6:15 when she went through security. Best laid plans... She messaged at 9 that flights had been cancelled due to thunderstorms, Porter only flies small plans. Porter simply said make your way to Pearson (train from Union) and see if you can get on a flight there. That didn't make sense timewise!! John picked her and got her to Pearson in no time and she got an 11 PM flight home.
Some customer service!
BTW it was a big light storm!

Thursday

John headed out to play Turtle's Creek at 8:30 and he sent this photo later in the afternoon.


I paid the condo insurance for 2027. I checked on flu shots - not until Oct 26. I filled out the AWAY card and gave it to Steve, I also did the online notification. Put another NO FLYERS sign in our mail box. Completed instructions for T while we are away. I updated our master travel plan.
I am now up to date on Australia My Kitchen Rules 2026!

We watched a 2016 movie with Cillian Murphy Anthropoid. It depicts Operation Anthropoid, the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich by exiled Czechoslovak soldiers Jozef Gabčík and Jan KubiĆĄ in World War II.


Friday
I went for a haircut and ran a couple of errands before meeting my BFF for lobster rolls, our go-to.
I cleaned out fridge and froze the remaining bananas.

We are away starting Monday for three weeks, I will post our itinerary soon.

Autumn is here.


The Canada geese are on their way south.



It is Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. 


Our Europe itinerary!





COOKING



Saturday - pork tenderloin au gratin potatoes and cauliflower
Sunday - leftovers with additional cauliflower
Monday - Bulgogi beef rice and green beans
Tuesday - Asian beef and beans
Wednesday - ordered Swiss Chalet
Thursday - ham, mashed potatoes cauliflower
Friday - steak green beans and baked potato


READING

I started Standing Still, but honestly, it is a bit of a drag and really not catching my interest.





Saturday Oct 31 - Warsaw - Paris - Toronto

  Itinerary (Revised/Final) Mon Oct 12 -13 Toronto - Copenhagen - Vienna Oct 14 - Vienna Oct 15 - Vienna Oct 16 - Vienna to Budapest by tra...