just what the doctor ordered.......

We spent a beautiful clear blue sky day exploring a small part of Toronto. Together, just the four of us. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. This is a pic of the Toronto skyline taken on the ferry over to Toronto Island.

Every city is made up of pockets of communities, some of which are more enticing than others, some have been created by different cultures who have moved into an area, some are business driven. Others are formed based on interests........the arts, the environment, the lifestyle. I love this aspect of city life, where you can explore the globe within the boundaries of one vibrant city.

Toronto thrives because of her diversity as well as her clearly defined communities.....the Annex, my old stomping ground, full of urban homes renovated and interspersed between the places of higher learning, The Beaches with its yuppified boardwalks along Lake Ontario, Queen Street and it's vibrant night life, Bay Street business, Rosedale set right in the middle of the city with beautiful big homes and many private schools, Spadina the garment district, Little Italy northwest of Bloor Street, Chinatown which is part of and off Spadine, and the The Danforth which is predominantly Greek. There are so many others.......which include the more violent poverty stricken side of the city.........Jane-Finch corridor for example where another shooting just took place.........Regent Park where rundown public housing apartments seem to block off the sun.......

Toronto is a glorious city, one I'm familiar with, and one I call home to despite having lived hundreds of kilometers away from it for a long time. It gets a bad rap from the rest of the country, because there is a sense that the people who live there are myopic in their views. To some extent, it is true. There is a sense that many Torontonians havent a clue how the rest of the country functions or looks like, that what happens within the borders of this city is more important than what happens on the east coast, or on the prairies etc. Never mind.....I always feel welcome when I return. And I love to explore it's little nooks and crannies, which always surprise me.

On Tuesday, my family took a short trip ferry across to the Toronto Islands and met up with a cousin of my husband who has lived there for many years. It is a small community with a core group of people who fought to remain living there despite years when the government only recognized them as squatters. In the ensuing years, the little cottages found on the island were saved by the inhabitants who fought to preserve the ambiance and lifestyle one would normally find on the west and east coasts. They are now considered residents, and many of the cottages have been renovated to accomodate year round living and growing families.

Not one of them were ostentatious whatsoever. In fact, many are small......all are unique in their design and decor, and most are surrounded by beautiful english like perennial gardens, complete with ivy which weaves along the side of the home and through the makeshift arbours. About 300 homes are nestled throughout one end of the island, where no cars are allowed.

We arrived early afternoon and were given bikes to explore the island, which included beautiful sandy beaches, an amusement park area which wasn't open for the season yet, which was fine by us because it allowed us to have the run of the place, a labrynth maze of hedges, a "haunted" lighthouse, flora and fauna and trails that took us to the other end of the island where a small airport is located. The four of us pedalled along enjoying the sun and quiet, and the head clearing views, falling in love with the lifestyle, and chatting about how great it would be to live there............so close to the city, but so far away from the bustle of it.

Just what the doctor ordered. It was a much needed escape from the realities of the week, and we all revelled in the day spent together as well as the time to clear our own heads as we pedalled along.

What was interesting was that wherever we went, the CN Tower loomed in the near distance. This needle in the sky............this technological wonder over the tree tops. It was a strange paradox not lost on us.

Yes, we whiled away a beautiful afternoon where the temperatures where perfect, when the clouds were no where to be seen.........watched the squirrels and birds and just had some downtime together fun. My God, it's been a while.........

All smiles.........

The evening was spent at the Skydome cheering for our Toronto Blue Jays. THEY BEAT the YANKS!! Max and I had made a sign to hold up for a local Fredericton ballplayer whose now a Jay........and our image and the sign was posted up on the JumboTron for all to see....pretty funny.

There are times when I do miss living in Toronto. And this was definately one of them. If you ever have an opportunity to visit this beautifully vibrant city, don't pass it up. And if you do decide to head there, let me know. I'd be more than happy to point you down a few interesting paths.