Random Musings About Toronto

[LanDroid]

How 'bout their attitudes towards pedestrians? Do pedestrians still cross the street just by pointing across it just before strutting across? I distinctly remember I nearly blew some woman away because I wasn't aware of that custom. [img]graemlins/shhh.gif[/img]

[reason]

Originally posted by LanDroid:
How 'bout their attitudes towards pedestrians? Do pedestrians still cross the street just by pointing across it just before strutting across? I distinctly remember I nearly blew some woman away because I wasn't aware of that custom. [img]graemlins/shhh.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I did not see that, though I did see a number of signs requesting that pedestrians obey the signals. Please read my aforementioned story of almost being run over.

[reason]

Everything you see on HGTV isn't worth seeing in person. Ok, I guess it was worth the trip, and I only went because my friend saw it on HGTV, but Casa Loma, while interesting, was showing signs of wear. It had limited historical value, and the venue was obviously underfunded. The third floor was some sad museum, part of which was devoted to...the Kiwanis.

HGTV featured the mansion because the wealthy owner built a system of tunnels to various buildings on the large piece of land. All but the tunnel to the garage and potting shed have been sealed off to visitors.

Casa Loma was interesting because it was built for ego at a time when most people lived in poverty. Walking through the place one had to wonder if the guy who built it (name escapes me already) got what he deserved when he lost it all. I got the sense he was borderline insane.

Casa Loma could really be a showplace, but the front yard is paved over as a parking lot, the hardwood floors need to be refinished, the original furniture was all auctioned off and they don't have the funds to repurchase, the chimneys have netting over them and are tied with straps.

<font color="#FFFFAA" size="1">[ April 21, 2005 05:05 PM: Message edited by: craig. ]</font>

[reason]

Toronto has a Carolinian climate. A highly educated, well-spoken young man spent a considerable amount of time explaining the complexities of Toronto weather, including the aforementioned tidbit. I couldn't help but notice that the locals are a bit sensitive about the weather. A tshirt in a gift shop addressed the perception and reality of Toronto weather, with the "perception" drawing depicting igloos surrounding the CN Tower.

Anyway, the young man told us Lake Ontario, while small, is deep and doesn't freeze. As a result, Toronto's weather is less extreme than Chicago, Minneapolis and Boston.

I did notice vineyard after vineyard, extending from Pennsylvania, through NY and into Ontario, which would indicate moderate temperatures. But I couldn't help but notice that the trees looked like Cincinnnati in early March, or that a beautiful day by Toronto standards seemed pretty damn chilly to me. Let's just say I didn't exactly feel like I was in the Carolinas. Not to mention that you can easily see Toronto from Buffalo and vice versa.

<font color="#FFFFAA" size="1">[ April 22, 2005 03:14 PM: Message edited by: craig. ]</font>

[reason]

Originally posted by G L:
I wear sunglasses 99% of the time so "eye contact" isn't really an issue with me.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That must be weird on cloudy days. And at night. And at the dinner table. And during sex.

<font color="#FFFFAA" size="1">[ April 28, 2005 10:56 AM: Message edited by: Captain Whizbang ]</font>

[cincygreg]

Some of Canada's Greatest Exports To America

Pamela Anderson
Trish Stratus
Natasha Henstridge
Neve Cambell
Elisha Cuthbert
Jennifer Tilley
Jillian Hennessey
Linda Evangalista

Find more here
CANADIANS


and here

CANADIANS


[img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Blast from the Past]

and the funniest, John Candy. He died way too young. 11 yrs now he has been gone.. [img]frown.gif[/img]

[cincygreg]

Yeah, there's a lot more on there too. Some I had no idea that they were born in Canada.


[img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Blast from the Past]

I know Michael J Fox and ofcourse Petah Jenniings.

[Blast from the Past]

Originally posted by Lew:
Well, I'd also like to thank Canada for exporting their arctic air to us, so when we walk outside the door in January our breath freezes before we can exhale.

Well, GL doesn't have to worry about it, but for those of us who don't live in the tropics.....

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well it's not as bad here, but when one of those Arctic blasts sends your temps down to 10* we tend to have nights in the 30s. And 35* here feels like 10*...