Bright lights, Toronto nights. The Mug Race

I had noticed that the Niagara Falls Starbucks mug was particularly beautiful and in colors that I don't have yet. It's safe to say I was very excited already in advance about my new mug. I went through every Starbucks in Niagara Falls and the result was zero mugs. After returning to Toronto, I stepped into every Starbucks on my way, but it turned out that Toronto and Canada mugs are also facubg the shortage. So this morning I had to do a very focused Starbucks tour, a mug race to be more specific. I managed to score one Toronto mug and one pumpkin ceam cold brew during two hours.

I packed my things, including the last piece of Japanese cream cheese cake, and went to the airport. It turned out that passport and all other immigration procedures for travelers to the US will already done on the Canadian side. So I was able to simply walk through the airport in Detroit, and without further interviews or interrogations, I stepped onto the ground of the United States.

We made a stop in Dairy Queen, had our blizzards, made a few more stops, and ended up at Scott's mom's. And as t has become customary, it was bedtime at 9 pm for me.

For those interested, this post also includes a few pictures of my hotel room in Toronto, the list price of which is 450 euros per night. Fortunately, I didn't pay that much, but even for the amount I paid, I would have preferred not to have a pigeon feathers in the room.

Bright lights, Toronto nights. Niagara and Uncle Tetsu

Since I went to sleep at half past eight last night, I woke up at 1am. And 4am. And 5am. I guess I didn't fall asleep much after five anymore. I listened to the pouring rain and watched the lightning. Since the weather forecast promised bright sun and around 86F for Toronto, I obviously only packed summer clothes. I already started to make a plan in my mind, where I can buy rubber boots and rain jacket to go to Niagara.

When I went out at 7am to get breakfast at the diner around the corner, the streets were dry and the sky was clear. Go figure.

I had bought my bus tickets for today to go to Niagara Falls. At half past noon I got off the bus and was instantly fascinated by the foamy and clear blue water that fell down in the horseshoe falls. I enjoyed the falls from every possible angle that Canada allowed and also went up the Skylon tower. While in the past I have looked at Canada across the river when I was in Detroit, today I looked at the USA across the river while I was in Canada.

There was a Dairy Queen on the way to Skylon. Already excited, I thought about the menu and which blizzard to take, only to find the door locked and lights out. I thought about buying a mug from Starbucks then, but it turned out that there is still a post-pandemic supply crisis in this country, and instead of a Niagara mug, they think I can drink coffee from a paper cup probably.

In Toronto, I did a quick tour in my neighbourhood, bought Uncle Tetsu's Japanese cheesecake and, since today's breakfast was significantly worse than I thought, also a couple of yogurts. Couple of years ago in Bangkok, we also went to Uncle Tetsu's to buy the same cake and it was so delicious. When I noticed that in addition to Bangkok, he also bakes in Toronto, it was clear that I would not miss eating this cake again. Half today, half tomorrow morning. Life is a Japanese cheesecake. By the way, this cheesecake shop is right next to Kaka Sushi (translation from Estonian: Poop Sushi) , "eat as much as you can". Hope, you won't have any difficulties finding either now.

I went up to the roof of the hotel to enjoy the city views and then returned to my room to go to sleep.

Bright lights and Toronto nights. Waiting for Godot

 

When I arrived at the airport in the morning, I was greeted by the usual state - dozens of people in line, while at the security belt there was one free slot after another. I still fail to understand, what are they all waiting for, just standing in line and not moving forward to empty security check? Godot? Handheld leading? In any case, lately I've started to just walk past the travellers as soon as I see that there are several free slots along the belt.

The flight departed on time, but it seems that the headwind was too strong for this tiny plane, so we still arrived 20 minutes late. My 50 minute transfer turned into a 30 minute run through the airport and through passport check. I got on as the second to last and had to chase a Lithuanian guy from my seat. Another delight for the last boarder is that there is zero space for luggage in the overhead lockers. The passengers had all very comfortably squeezed their blankets and pillows in there, and except for one lady, no one raised even an eyebrow even when I pulled them out and asked whose they were. At least I could place my bag relatively close to me.

For the first time I flew across the Atlantic in a tiny, 3+3 seat plane. The toilet was just so big that to pull soe toilet paper from the roll you had to squat between the toilet and the door with your back straight and then practically tear a strip from the roll that was placed mere centimeters from the floor. Trying it any other way, you would have either hit your head on the door or the toilet seat lid. An hour after taking off, the toilet was already in its usual puddled state, and while travellers using the toilet in socks are nothing new, I don't think I had ever seen someone go there completely barefoot. But it seems that he didn't see any problem himself, because throughout the rest of the flight he cultivated a lifestyle close to nature, went barefoot in the toilet and didn't waste water by flushing. I regretfully happened to visit this room once right after him...

At the beginning of the flight, the flight attendant announced that on today's flight we have meat stew with rice or lasagna as our choice of the meal. An hour later, that promise had been erased from their minds, and everyone was given the same box of food without asking for any preference. In the box, a sight of meatballs, mashed potatoes and green peas opened up. Let it be said that this meal was actually very tasty for airplane food. The Indian passengers behind me asked what kind of meat was in the food, was it pork? The steward replied that it's "normal meat".

Immigration was quick, more like a walk through. I took a Lyft and drove to the hotel.

I decided to make good use of the additional seven hours due to the time difference and walked to the park by the river, where beautiful views of the city skyline opened up. On the way there and in the park I met a couple of squirrels and one rabbit. Very cute.

On the way back, I grabbed a chicken wrap from a Lebanese bistro that could probably feed a smaller Rwandan village and even share with the neighbors. Half went into the fridge. And by 20:30 I was fast asleep.