Toronto

We arrived by air a day and a half prior to boarding our ship so that we could enjoy some of the city on our own.  A really very interesting city-the population is extremely diverse.  The core of the city is always crowded with folks shopping.  At night the major square is filled with bands, dancing, and laughter.  Description of the city is helpful:  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto>

Royal Museum of Toronto

The Royal Ontario Museum is spectacular. We just didn’t have the time to see it all: Art, Culture, history are all here.  This is the home page:  <https://www.rom.on.ca/en>

This shot of the entrance illustrates how the remodel was done around the original building without touching the existing walls everywhere I looked.  

Marilynn in the mezzanine and the entrances to the sections of the museum.

Church next to our Marriott and in the shade most of the day until late afternoon sun came through to illuminate the front.

Courtyard and pedestrian park.

Homeless in Toronto, but way fewer than I’ve seen elsewhere.

Traffic controlled residential street!  It’s labeled a “Calming Zone”.

A couple doing some business in the main square area.

Wonderful mural on side of business building.

One of the more interesting religious faiths.  Formed in Iran and spread worldwide.  Here is the story of this religion:  <https://www.bahai.org>

I found a really tasty dark beer in this brewery.

Sunday brings the closure during the morning of many of the stores!

The most unusual art project I’ve seen.  Amazing that the city would allow this to happen, but it remains simply wonderful.  Here’s the full story on this:  <https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/10/history-wall-smashing-truck-299-queen-street-west/>

My one and only at the Toronto fountain symbol.

Panorama of the famous Toronto sign and fountain.  

What’s cool for me in this shot is the presence of three phases of history with a 3 masted schooner, a racing sailboat, and the Viking Octantis all in the same frame.  We were in a tour boat heading to the 3 islands that protect the port.  People live on one of them and an ice breaker must clear a lane for supplies to get to them in the winter!

Another boat harbor and homes on this island.  When the lake freezes, an ice breaker makes one lane for the ferry to bring groceries, etc. to the folks that live here. 

Egrets hunting with the only island where homes are allowed is in the distance.

All the boats must be moved onto land as the lake freezes.