I am simply in Canada, land of no cellphone access. At least they have excellent taste in street names:
Thirsty for culture, Christy and I spent our first day off touring the city and its sights. Our big accomplishment: Casa Loma!
Formerly the home of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, it is now a museum of its time. Pellatt was a romantic who dreamed of building a 'medieval' castle looking over Toronto - with the help of 300 men in nearly three years, he realized that dream for roughly $3,500,00. Unfortunately, he lost his fortune and had to abandon his home... but it survived a hundred years beyond. Here are some snapshots:
The Great Hall: A classic organ, oversized Christmas tree, and crossbow/armor wall decor.
The Oak Room: Aptly named.
The Library: Note the detailed plaster of the ceiling.
View from the gardens:
Conservatory stained glass ceiling: Complete with hanging bunches of glass grapes.
Serving room:
Sir Pellatt's study: Also, the secret staircase hidden behind his fireplace.
Lady Pellatt's suite:
Apparently this furniture was the absolute height of fashion in 1911:
Sir Pellatt's bathroom: Very advanced plumbing for the times.
The Windsor Room: Pellatt always hoped royalty would stay at his home.
The Round Room: A circle. Really.
Stairway to the towers: Also, the view of Toronto and our signatures on the wall.
Christy "Morty" Morton (top) and me (bottom):
Secret tunnel to the stables and potting shed:
The names of Pellatt's horses!
Toronto is an expensive city. Taxes are high, shopping is unlimited, and food choices are innumerable. I was thrilled this this little gem and this veggie options:
But not as thrilled as I was about the free mulled cider in the lobby of our hotel!!
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Sushi has been outstanding in Canada. It comes with instructions for a better life:
As well as its own floatation device:
We were very, VERY happy campers.
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November is apparently Mo'vember -
Here's Ted and his contribution, The Duke:
Here is my Duke impression:
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Toronto has certainly been full of surprises. The trains (known as The Rocket) are epic:
The buildings are full of cars:
And the window shopping has a whole other set of surprises:
The chilly air has brought out our best hats:
And gotten us excited for the holiday season:
I hope you're all staying warm and enjoying a little extra family time. I miss mine, but at least I've got these kids to keep me company:
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! May your pies be made of pumpkin, and your smiles be ever wide!
I visited that castle ... And I stayed at your hotel.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you're alive & enjoying the land of your grandmother.
Your great uncle Freddy was quite famous in and around Toronto. He used to "organize" card games for the rich & infamous. Most of those games were at the Royal York Hotel. When ever I went up to visit, I was treated like royalty :) You should try to visit that hotel. It was a Grand-Dame of a place. I wonder what it's like now?
Love & appreciate the posts