Toronto is a big place. It's not like Belfast where you can get from one end to the other in 20 minutes, Toronto has a 4 lane express way with 4 lane connectors... each direction.... even the GPS got confused. Our Africa trip (not that we ended up driving to Africa!) yielded a few new friends from Canada and it was lovely to be able to meet up with one of them. Anne spent an extra month in Kenya and hearing her stories, not to mention reminiscing about our own trip was great fun. Sorry to those guys who didn't get to meet up with us cause they live a couple of thousand miles somewhere else in Canada... or haven't come home yet.
Catching up with Anne
For various reasons, some of both of our families ended up emigrating to Canada. First stop, Uncle Raymond, Auntie Doreen, Alan and Anne. It has been over 11 years since I spoke to this side of the family so to be welcomed back was a great pleasure. We all sat chatting about family, our trip and everything else under the sun and a couple of hours turned into 6 or 7.
Uncle Raymond, Auntie Doreen, Anne and Alan
As Jude's parents know a few people in the Toronto area, they asked us to stop by. Visiting a couple of 80 year olds is a bit like volunteering for care in the community but it turned out to be a really lovely day with Gert and Annie. Gert moved from Holland many years ago and we where surprised to learn that Annie wrote a poem that hangs in loads of Government buildings in Canada. It was written as a thank you for Canada saving the Netherlands during WW2.
With Annie and Gert
Another Annie was on our list for Toronto. Although Anne of Green Cables was set in PEI, most of the filming was carried out in Ontario, especially Toronto. Good husband that I am and armed with various maps, google directions and Tim Horton's coffee we hit the trail. One of us was thoroughly excited to see all the different landscapes, houses, bridges and such like used in the film...... one of us had to drive.
The Green Gables used in the TV dramatisation
My cousin John and his son Shayne met us at Canada's Wonderland. What better way to catch up with your cousin than upside down on a roller coaster. Another great catch up and I got to meet Dora the Explorer. Bonus. Jude and I spent nearly 12 hours in the park. Absolutely shattered by the end of the day it was all fun. Unfortunately we didn't get to meet up with John's wife Kelly and youngest son, Ryan. It's just an excuse to go back.
With Chris' other cousin John and son Shayne in Canada's wonderland
We did like Toronto but it is a big city with huge highways. Well worth another visit though.
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