While I was in Toronto, I met a Canadian who wants to travel the States. He started asking me about all the places I'd been in the states, and a road trip my family took when I was a child came up. My dad loved road trips, and on summer vacations (he worked for the school) he would pack us all into the car to travel a route of his choosing. Usually we spent two weeks at it.
We drove to Nova Scotia; Jekyll Island, Georgia; Orlando, Florida (yes, and Disney World); and Washington State, where my dad's brother lives.
I remember being disappointed we weren't going to pass by the Grand Canyon and the point where four states meet. Instead, we took the northern route. In my conversation with the Canadian, I mentioned the national parks we went to. Only, I couldn't remember where they were, other than a vague, "Montana?"
Thinking about that today, I googled a map of the national parks to find out. Curiosity, and all that. What's fascinating is that on a map of the U.S. I can trace our general route by the national parks we visited. From Washington, D.C. through cow-and-corn country, via the Badlands in South Dakota with a stop at Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills, past the Little Bighorn Battlefield and Crazy Horse National Monument in eastern Montana, through Yellowstone in Wyoming on the border with Montana and Idaho, and to northern Montana and Glacier National Park.
I think it's possible we hit just about every national park in that part of the U.S. And after all that research and remembering, I want to go on a road trip again.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Hunt for Djarum Specials, 6 June, 2010, Toronto
Mission: Buy two packs of Djarum Specials for U.S. residents.
Morning:
I walk past a Lotto Canada (Ontario?) Store, pause, turn back, look in, and because it reminds me of Italy's tabaccherie, I decide to make my first attempt. I go in.
I ask the little Asian lady behind the counter in the shoebox-sized store, Do you have cigarettes? (I have no idea where to buy cigarettes in Canada - they're not on display in drugstores. Hell, I don't even pay attention to where to buy them in the States!)
She says, yes. I ask, Cloves?
Again, the answer is yes.
Do you have Djyaroooom Specials?
She pulls out the Black, then one pack of Specials. I ask for one more, and she tells me she's only got the one; do I want one of the Blacks? I reply that they're for someone else, so I'd better just take the one.
She rings it up. I'm standing there with a $5 bill, ready to pay up. The till stops at $11.00. ELEVEN DOLLARS??
Good grief! I say. She chuckles, and asks if I want the receipt. I take it, and she jokes, show it to him. Meaning my friend back home.
So now I have one, but need two. One down, one to go, as they say.
Later that day...
I walk into another convenience store, this one larger.
Do you carry cigarettes? I ask again.
Yes.
Do you carry... Jiaarooom Specials?
He doesn't understand, so I try again. And then a third time. Finally, I say, Here: and pull out the pack I've already purchased.
He squints at it, and grumpily tells me no. I thank him and move on, thinking about airports and duty-free shops...
After Dinner, which I unwisely decided to make blueberry pancakes, I change course on a whim and walk up Yonge St, which is full of adult stores, run-down-looking restaurants and tacky souvenier stores, to see what I can find.
Lo and Behold! A couple blocks north, across the street, is a shop with a red lighted sign that reads, "TABAC". Thinking tabaccheria, again, I cross over to investigate.
There are big advertisements for cigars, so I ask just to be sure (yep, you guessed it!): Do you have cigarettes, too?
The very nice-looking man laughs and says, yes, that is why we're called a tabacco store... (well, sure, but whatever)
I explain about the prominently displayed cigar signs. He laughs again.
Do you have cloves? Is my next question.
We have Djaruhm Black and Djaruhm Special.
Oh, perfect! I say. One of the specials, please.
As he's getting it, I explain that this is going to make Johnny Appleseed* very happy, because apparently you can't get them in the States anymore.
He agrees and says you won't be able to get them in Canada for much longer - it's only a matter of time.
Oh? Why's that?
Legislation passed recently that prohibits all flavored tobacco products.
Light dawning, I ask, Because it makes them too appealing?
Because it makes them too appealing, he repeats.
I make a sympathetic face, until I realize Oh, wait! I don't smoke, so it doesn't bother me.
I can tell, I say, I'm going to be hunting more of these up every time I go home.
He chuckles, and says, well here's your first successful purchase.
I turn to leave.
And that, I realized as I walked away, was the first time I'd ever purchased cigarettes.
* Names have been altered to protect privacy.
Morning:
I walk past a Lotto Canada (Ontario?) Store, pause, turn back, look in, and because it reminds me of Italy's tabaccherie, I decide to make my first attempt. I go in.
I ask the little Asian lady behind the counter in the shoebox-sized store, Do you have cigarettes? (I have no idea where to buy cigarettes in Canada - they're not on display in drugstores. Hell, I don't even pay attention to where to buy them in the States!)
She says, yes. I ask, Cloves?
Again, the answer is yes.
Do you have Djyaroooom Specials?
She pulls out the Black, then one pack of Specials. I ask for one more, and she tells me she's only got the one; do I want one of the Blacks? I reply that they're for someone else, so I'd better just take the one.
She rings it up. I'm standing there with a $5 bill, ready to pay up. The till stops at $11.00. ELEVEN DOLLARS??
Good grief! I say. She chuckles, and asks if I want the receipt. I take it, and she jokes, show it to him. Meaning my friend back home.
So now I have one, but need two. One down, one to go, as they say.
Later that day...
I walk into another convenience store, this one larger.
Do you carry cigarettes? I ask again.
Yes.
Do you carry... Jiaarooom Specials?
He doesn't understand, so I try again. And then a third time. Finally, I say, Here: and pull out the pack I've already purchased.
He squints at it, and grumpily tells me no. I thank him and move on, thinking about airports and duty-free shops...
After Dinner, which I unwisely decided to make blueberry pancakes, I change course on a whim and walk up Yonge St, which is full of adult stores, run-down-looking restaurants and tacky souvenier stores, to see what I can find.
Lo and Behold! A couple blocks north, across the street, is a shop with a red lighted sign that reads, "TABAC". Thinking tabaccheria, again, I cross over to investigate.
There are big advertisements for cigars, so I ask just to be sure (yep, you guessed it!): Do you have cigarettes, too?
The very nice-looking man laughs and says, yes, that is why we're called a tabacco store... (well, sure, but whatever)
I explain about the prominently displayed cigar signs. He laughs again.
Do you have cloves? Is my next question.
We have Djaruhm Black and Djaruhm Special.
Oh, perfect! I say. One of the specials, please.
As he's getting it, I explain that this is going to make Johnny Appleseed* very happy, because apparently you can't get them in the States anymore.
He agrees and says you won't be able to get them in Canada for much longer - it's only a matter of time.
Oh? Why's that?
Legislation passed recently that prohibits all flavored tobacco products.
Light dawning, I ask, Because it makes them too appealing?
Because it makes them too appealing, he repeats.
I make a sympathetic face, until I realize Oh, wait! I don't smoke, so it doesn't bother me.
I can tell, I say, I'm going to be hunting more of these up every time I go home.
He chuckles, and says, well here's your first successful purchase.
I turn to leave.
And that, I realized as I walked away, was the first time I'd ever purchased cigarettes.
* Names have been altered to protect privacy.
My Favorite Tourist Activities
1. Eat local food (good local restaurants if not unique fare)
2. Drink local coffee
3. Read books/ buy books
4. Walk around (everywhere)
5. Visit historical places and buildings (Castles? Are there any castles?)
6. Museums
7. Outdoor activities (canoe, bike, hike, etc... but not rock climbing, no thanks!)
8. Relax
9. Watch people, look at how they dress
10. Drink local alcoholic beverages
2. Drink local coffee
3. Read books/ buy books
4. Walk around (everywhere)
5. Visit historical places and buildings (Castles? Are there any castles?)
6. Museums
7. Outdoor activities (canoe, bike, hike, etc... but not rock climbing, no thanks!)
8. Relax
9. Watch people, look at how they dress
10. Drink local alcoholic beverages
Comments on Toronto, June 5
1. One of the first things to do today is get some fruit or fruit juice. Keep wasting my free breakfast on three carbs and a coffee (four free items included in room rates).
2. Today I think I'll move slowly.
3. I should stay out of the sun - I've been getting sunburned. Is that a good enough excuse to see a movie? (I tried the Hockey Hall of Fame but it's not $10, it's FIFTEEN!!)
4. I love raspberries, maybe more than any other fruit. But ask me again in peach season.
5. St. Lawrence Market is fun, and pretty cheap for two meals on vacation. (That's cheese, smoked lake trout, bread and raspberries. Yummmm)
6. I couldn't help myself - I bought two books.
7. I love Prince of Persia. I might buy it.
8. Today was nice, relaxing. I wanted to stay out of the sun and didn't want to pay for the Hockey Hall of Fame (see above) so I read, had coffee, and watched Prince of Persia instead. In the afternoon. By myself, again.
9. I'm tired of the touristy thing, and the walking thing, and am looking forward to being home, making money and planning my future.
10. Did I mention I love Prince of Persia?
2. Today I think I'll move slowly.
3. I should stay out of the sun - I've been getting sunburned. Is that a good enough excuse to see a movie? (I tried the Hockey Hall of Fame but it's not $10, it's FIFTEEN!!)
4. I love raspberries, maybe more than any other fruit. But ask me again in peach season.
5. St. Lawrence Market is fun, and pretty cheap for two meals on vacation. (That's cheese, smoked lake trout, bread and raspberries. Yummmm)
6. I couldn't help myself - I bought two books.
7. I love Prince of Persia. I might buy it.
8. Today was nice, relaxing. I wanted to stay out of the sun and didn't want to pay for the Hockey Hall of Fame (see above) so I read, had coffee, and watched Prince of Persia instead. In the afternoon. By myself, again.
9. I'm tired of the touristy thing, and the walking thing, and am looking forward to being home, making money and planning my future.
10. Did I mention I love Prince of Persia?
Thoughts from Toronto
3 June 2010:
I love being in Toronto, vacationing by myself. Sure, it gets lonely sometimes, especially at dinner and in the evenings, when I (usually) have nothing to do. But I can visit the sites and places I want to, I can nap after lunch if I'm so inclined, and I can eat whatever for meals, including cheese with bread and apples at the hostel, or a slice of pizza by a fountain.
Vacation is always nice, because there are no immediate responsibilities. Except for catching the plane home, which I have struggled with before. It's not all idyllic for me this time, because I'm going to go home without a place to live in August, and I have other worries, but I have at least accomplished some things, and I know I like the city!! That's something.
I enjoy watching movies by myself, but it's even better to have someone to make faces and roll eyes at, and snort/giggle/gasp with.
Today I walked around the Annex, my preferred neighborhood for living, and a bit of Little Italy (which needs more exploring, I don't think I got to the heart of it) before my poor feet gave out. Then I came home, lunched, and napped. Ahh... Now I'm at the theater (my journal has that spelled - automatically - as theatre), waiting for Robin Hood to begin. With one other lady, also (so far) by herself.
I've just gotten back from the washroom and am now -- OH LOOK! It's starting!!
"Coming attractions are next. There is still time to visit the concession stand for refreshments." i.e. Spend your money here! Quick!!
That movie is So. Good.
I love being in Toronto, vacationing by myself. Sure, it gets lonely sometimes, especially at dinner and in the evenings, when I (usually) have nothing to do. But I can visit the sites and places I want to, I can nap after lunch if I'm so inclined, and I can eat whatever for meals, including cheese with bread and apples at the hostel, or a slice of pizza by a fountain.
Vacation is always nice, because there are no immediate responsibilities. Except for catching the plane home, which I have struggled with before. It's not all idyllic for me this time, because I'm going to go home without a place to live in August, and I have other worries, but I have at least accomplished some things, and I know I like the city!! That's something.
I enjoy watching movies by myself, but it's even better to have someone to make faces and roll eyes at, and snort/giggle/gasp with.
Today I walked around the Annex, my preferred neighborhood for living, and a bit of Little Italy (which needs more exploring, I don't think I got to the heart of it) before my poor feet gave out. Then I came home, lunched, and napped. Ahh... Now I'm at the theater (my journal has that spelled - automatically - as theatre), waiting for Robin Hood to begin. With one other lady, also (so far) by herself.
I've just gotten back from the washroom and am now -- OH LOOK! It's starting!!
"Coming attractions are next. There is still time to visit the concession stand for refreshments." i.e. Spend your money here! Quick!!
That movie is So. Good.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Toronto List #2
1. Souvenir: Fake straw fedora, $10. Was I supposed to haggle.... ??
2. Longest Conversation: Stopped by two very chatty Save the Children employees in Kensington Market. Will never stop to listen to them again.
3. Love: The streetcars. So easy and so much fun to ride!
4. Hate: The rain. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Very glad I have my raincoat and sneakers.
5. Coffee Shop: The Green Grind, in Little Italy. Sustainable brews. Stopped in for a $2 double Americano, sat in a chair I want, was given part of the NYT by a fellow customer, and whiled away half an hour with the paper.
6. Worst Hot Chocolate: Coffee Zone, an emergency evening purchase that I regret.
7. Neatest Address: 859 1/2 Bathurst St.
8. Overheard on the Subway: "Toronto has two seasons: Winter, and Construction."
9. Latest and Greatest Book (and great for traveling and rainy evenings): Dracula, by Bram Stoker. No, it is NOT your typical stuffy classic. Instead, it's very well-written, very VERY suspenseful - and by that I mean, the author gives the reader tidbits of information that come into play later on, weaving the plot together... Did I mention it's creepy? It even gave me a bad dream. Delicious. And Riveting, in a page-turning way.
10. House-Hunting Status: Drawing a blank. I've decided this will be a vacation, as opposed to strictly house-hunting, which is pretty difficult when listings for August and September aren't up yet.
2. Longest Conversation: Stopped by two very chatty Save the Children employees in Kensington Market. Will never stop to listen to them again.
3. Love: The streetcars. So easy and so much fun to ride!
4. Hate: The rain. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Very glad I have my raincoat and sneakers.
5. Coffee Shop: The Green Grind, in Little Italy. Sustainable brews. Stopped in for a $2 double Americano, sat in a chair I want, was given part of the NYT by a fellow customer, and whiled away half an hour with the paper.
6. Worst Hot Chocolate: Coffee Zone, an emergency evening purchase that I regret.
7. Neatest Address: 859 1/2 Bathurst St.
8. Overheard on the Subway: "Toronto has two seasons: Winter, and Construction."
9. Latest and Greatest Book (and great for traveling and rainy evenings): Dracula, by Bram Stoker. No, it is NOT your typical stuffy classic. Instead, it's very well-written, very VERY suspenseful - and by that I mean, the author gives the reader tidbits of information that come into play later on, weaving the plot together... Did I mention it's creepy? It even gave me a bad dream. Delicious. And Riveting, in a page-turning way.
10. House-Hunting Status: Drawing a blank. I've decided this will be a vacation, as opposed to strictly house-hunting, which is pretty difficult when listings for August and September aren't up yet.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
First Impressions of Toronto
A somewhat-chronological List:
1. Walking upwards of five hours cannot be called a "cure" for restlessness, as it comes with its own sensations of discomfort. Yet: I am not restless anymore, in fact I'm quite tired. Yesterday's resolution: Today I will take public transportation EVERYWHERE. I can't wait to try the streetcars!
2. I have not improved my eatery-locating skills in strange cities. Help! If you know any good cheap places to eat in Toronto, please comment.
3. Starbucks coffee should taste more like Second Cup Coffee. I have yet to try coffee and donuts at Tim Horton's. But I have plans to.
4. I like the Subway because it's easy to ride (buy a token, take it anywhere), it's roomy, and (so far) not crowded.
5. I don't like the Subway because it still costs $3 to go one stop, which would be heaven on poor abused feet, if I didn't feel the price was ridiculous.
6. I appear to be far enough south that summers are still uncomfortablywarm hot.
7. Bloor St, although the site of many designer boutiques, juxtaposes those sleek trendy storefronts with ugly construction equipment.
8. The neighborhood I'm staying in is only slightly seedy.
9. People do speak a bit funny here, but it's not glaringly obvious.
10. Finally, the university campus is beautiful and I'm quite looking forward to studying here. Although I can't imagine I'll be so hard-up for a snack that I'd ever eat out of one of those hot dog stands that sit on St. George's waiting for starving studying students to get desperate.
11. I forgot to mention: I have a superb sense of direction when it comes to walking around cities. I successfully navigated shortcuts twice yesterday, and today located the correct cardinal direction to walk in when I couldn't immediately find the street I needed.
1. Walking upwards of five hours cannot be called a "cure" for restlessness, as it comes with its own sensations of discomfort. Yet: I am not restless anymore, in fact I'm quite tired. Yesterday's resolution: Today I will take public transportation EVERYWHERE. I can't wait to try the streetcars!
2. I have not improved my eatery-locating skills in strange cities. Help! If you know any good cheap places to eat in Toronto, please comment.
3. Starbucks coffee should taste more like Second Cup Coffee. I have yet to try coffee and donuts at Tim Horton's. But I have plans to.
4. I like the Subway because it's easy to ride (buy a token, take it anywhere), it's roomy, and (so far) not crowded.
5. I don't like the Subway because it still costs $3 to go one stop, which would be heaven on poor abused feet, if I didn't feel the price was ridiculous.
6. I appear to be far enough south that summers are still uncomfortably
7. Bloor St, although the site of many designer boutiques, juxtaposes those sleek trendy storefronts with ugly construction equipment.
8. The neighborhood I'm staying in is only slightly seedy.
9. People do speak a bit funny here, but it's not glaringly obvious.
10. Finally, the university campus is beautiful and I'm quite looking forward to studying here. Although I can't imagine I'll be so hard-up for a snack that I'd ever eat out of one of those hot dog stands that sit on St. George's waiting for starving studying students to get desperate.
11. I forgot to mention: I have a superb sense of direction when it comes to walking around cities. I successfully navigated shortcuts twice yesterday, and today located the correct cardinal direction to walk in when I couldn't immediately find the street I needed.
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